Early-Stage Talks Could See Meta Lease AI Capacity to Anthropic in Billion-Dollar Deal

Meta Platforms is in preliminary discussions to lease artificial intelligence computing power to rival AI startup Anthropic, in a potential deal valued at more than $10 billion, according to multiple reports. The talks, first reported by The New York Times, would mark a major step in Meta's strategy to monetize its massive infrastructure investments by effectively launching a cloud computing business.

"Social media giant is considering launching a cloud business as it spends $145bn on infrastructure"

machinebrief.comMeta and Anthropic in talks for up to $10bn data centre deal

The Financial Times also confirmed the scope of Meta's planned spending, noting that the company could spend as much as $145 billion on capital expenditures, including for AI infrastructure, by 2026. The potential deal with Anthropic would represent one of the earliest signs that Meta is turning its enormous data center buildout into a revenue-generating asset.

Discussions are at a very early stage and follow Anthropic's recent compute agreement with SpaceX, according to Slashdot's report on CNBC's coverage. For Anthropic, access to AI chips remains a persistent bottleneck. Slashdot noted that the startup "places usage limits on its most advanced models like Fable" due to compute constraints, making a deal with Meta strategically valuable.

SlashdotMeta In Talks To Lease Computing Power To Anthropic In Potential $10 Billion Deal

Parameter.io reported that the potential partnership could help Meta create new revenue streams from its AI infrastructure, highlighting "Meta's shift toward infrastructure-based business growth." The news caused Meta's stock to initially slide before recovering, with Tippinsights noting that shares lifted on Friday following the report.

parameter.ioMeta Platforms, Inc. (META) Stock: Slides as $10 Billion Anthropic Deal Could Transform AI Infrastructure Strategy

"Access to enough AI chips remains a challenge for firms like Anthropic"

If finalized, the arrangement would put Meta in direct competition with established cloud providers like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, while giving Anthropic the computing power needed to scale its models. Neither company has commented publicly on the talks, which were characterized as exploratory by sources familiar with the matter.