Anthropic Signs $1.8 Billion Cloud Computing Deal with Akamai

AI startup Anthropic has inked a $1.8 billion cloud computing agreement with Akamai Technologies, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The deal is designed to accommodate the surging demand for the company's artificial intelligence software.

Akamai's shares jumped 25% last Thursday after the company disclosed in its earnings report that it had signed a long-term cloud agreement with a developer of advanced AI models, though it did not name the partner. The stock continued climbing on Friday, reaching approximately $149.05—a gain of nearly 28%.

Akamai, which specializes in cloud computing and cybersecurity services, projected second-quarter revenue between $1.08 billion and $1.10 billion. That range compares with analysts' estimates of $1.10 billion, according to LSEG data.

CEO Tom Leighton stated that Akamai is well-positioned to secure essential components, including central processing units and graphics processing units, despite rising global prices for these parts.

Anthropic and SpaceX Forge Computing Partnership

In a separate development, Anthropic announced last Wednesday that it had reached an agreement to tap into computing resources from Elon Musk's SpaceX. The move signals a fresh alignment between the two entities and bolsters their positions in the fast-moving AI race.