Moonshot AI in talks with US cloud giants for Kimi K3 hosting

Moonshot AI's negotiations with Microsoft, Amazon, and Google mark a potential first for a Chinese AI company seeking hosting deals with major US cloud providers. The proposed arrangement would involve revenue sharing, with Moonshot asking for up to 30% of revenue from Kimi K3 services. This would give the US platforms access to a Chinese AI model while allowing Moonshot to monetize its technology in Western markets.

The context is complicated by US-China tensions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's recent threat of a trade ban and allegations of model theft from Anthropic add regulatory and legal risks. Moonshot denies these allegations, and the companies involved have not commented. The talks are described as early, and key details like revenue split, data access, and token tracking remain unresolved. The outcome could hinge on regulatory approval and the companies' ability to navigate political pressures.