Meta in talks to rent AI compute to Anthropic for up to $10B

Meta is in active discussions with Anthropic to rent computing capacity from Meta's data centers, a deal that could reach $10 billion（約1.6兆円） over two years if finalized, according to reporting by the New York Times. Anthropic initiated the pitch in June, presenting it as a way to access Meta's excess AI compute. However, the arrangement remains under review by Meta, and neither company has committed; either could exit negotiations.

For Meta, the potential deal aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg's stated strategy to investors: selling off excess compute capacity in years when Meta's own artificial intelligence demand does not consume all available resources. Meta is investing heavily in infrastructure this year, planning to spend up to $145 billion（約23兆円）, predominantly on AI. Beyond compute rental, Meta is exploring other revenue avenues, including paid AI subscriptions such as "Meta One" and even investing in space-based solar power to power its data centers.

Anthropric faces acute capacity pressure. Demand for Claude Code, the company's AI code-generation product, has surged, creating an immediate need for additional computing resources. Anthropic has already committed $45 billion（約7.2兆円） to a separate deal with SpaceX AI. However, the company is also pursuing a more durable long-term strategy: building its own data centers. To execute that plan, Anthropic has hired former Google executives to lead the internal infrastructure effort. This parallel track suggests that any compute rental from Meta may serve as a temporary solution while Anthropic constructs its own facilities.

Meta's potential deal with Anthropic represents the first concrete test of a revenue strategy CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined to investors: selling excess AI compute capacity when the company's own demand does not consume all available resources. Meta is spending up to $145 billion（約23兆円） this year mostly on AI infrastructure, and Zuckerberg signaled to investors that monetizing surplus capacity could offset some of that investment. The timing aligns with Anthropic's immediate pressure: Claude Code demand has surged, and the company needs capacity quickly. Notably, Anthropic is not abandoning its own infrastructure ambitions—it has already signed a $45 billion（約7.2兆円） deal with SpaceX AI and hired former Google executives to build in-house data centers, suggesting this compute rental may be a bridge solution rather than a long-term arrangement. For Meta, the deal would establish a precedent for turning infrastructure into a new business line, though the fact that either party can still walk away reflects the deal's early stage and lack of formal commitment.