Anthropic Faces Challenges Securing Cloud Capacity Amid Soaring Infrastructure Costs

Image: TechCrunch · Source

Anthropic struggles to secure sufficient cloud resources from AWS, Google, and Microsoft, which now view it as a competitor, even as the company anticipates spending over $750 billion on cloud contracts ahead of a planned November IPO.

Anthropic, the AI company known for its Claude language models, is encountering significant difficulties securing adequate cloud computing capacity from major providers Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. According to a leaked S-1 filing obtained by The Wall Street Journal and reported by TechCrunch, these cloud providers increasingly perceive Anthropic as a competitor, complicating partnerships that once fueled Anthropic's infrastructure needs.

This development comes as Anthropic's infrastructure spending is set to soar, with estimates exceeding $750 billion on cloud contracts, including deals still under negotiation. The company is also investing in leasing its own data centers and collaborating with third-party data center operators to supplement capacity. However, Anthropic expresses concerns over the limited operational history of these third-party providers, which may lead to reliability issues compared to established hyperscaler cloud providers.

These expensive infrastructure efforts coincide with Anthropic posting an $80.7 billion net loss in the first half of 2026. In that period, Anthropic generated $16.3 billion in revenue, with just two customers accounting for approximately 20% of sales. Furthermore, the company cautions in its disclosures that it could face liabilities exceeding its insurance coverage from harm caused by AI behaviors.

Despite these challenges, Anthropic reported third-quarter revenue reaching $16.8 billion, marking a 45% increase over the previous quarter. The firm is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering targeted for November 2026.

Anthropic has not provided an official response to inquiries concerning these reports at this time, but the situation highlights the evolving dynamics between AI startups and leading cloud service providers, especially as AI companies grow more ambitious and competitive in infrastructure needs.