Kimi K3 is an AI model developed by Moonshot AI. The company is in talks to have it hosted on US cloud platforms.

What is the revenue-sharing arrangement?

Moonshot is asking for up to 30 percent of revenue from K3 services, according to people familiar with the discussions.

What are the main obstacles to the deal?

The talks are still early, and issues like revenue split, data access, and token usage tracking are unresolved. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has threatened Moonshot with a trade ban, and US authorities accused the company of stealing Anthropic's model Fable.

Large Language ModelsAI Business & IndustryTHE DECODERAug 26, 2026Aug 26, 2026, 22:00 JST

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

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3 Key Points

What happened
Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI is negotiating revenue-sharing deals with Microsoft, Amazon, and Google to host its Kimi K3 model on Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. The company is asking for up to 30% of revenue from K3 services.
Why it matters
This would be the first time a Chinese AI company has such a deal with a major US cloud provider. However, talks are early and uncertain, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently threatening a trade ban and US authorities accusing Moonshot of stealing Anthropic's model Fable. Moonshot denies the allegations.
What to watch
Open questions include the revenue split, data access, and how token usage is tracked. Microsoft, Google, and AWS declined to comment to Reuters.

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Context & Analysis

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.

FAQ

What is Kimi K3?: Kimi K3 is an AI model developed by Moonshot AI. The company is in talks to have it hosted on US cloud platforms.
What is the revenue-sharing arrangement?: Moonshot is asking for up to 30 percent of revenue from K3 services, according to people familiar with the discussions.
What are the main obstacles to the deal?: The talks are still early, and issues like revenue split, data access, and token usage tracking are unresolved. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has threatened Moonshot with a trade ban, and US authorities accused the company of stealing Anthropic's model Fable.

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