【AI前沿】Anthropic will pay xAI $1.25B per month for compute

In BriefPosted:2:29 PM PDT · May 20, 2026Image Credits:Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / Getty ImagesTim De ChantAnthropic will pay xAI $1.25B per month for computeEarlier this month, Anthropicsurprised the AI worldwith a deal to buy 300 megawatts’ worth of compute — securing the entire output of the Colossus 1 data center near Memphis, Tennessee.Turns out, compute at that scale isn’t cheap. Anthropic will be paying xAI $1.25 billion per month through May 2029, with a discounted rate for the first two months as xAI completes its ramp-up. All told, the deal could bring xAI over $40 billion in revenue.Details of the transaction emerged from SpaceX’s S-1 filing with the SEC. The deal, the company said, “allows us to monetize unused compute capacity in our infrastructure.” The terms of the deal allow either side to terminate the contract with 90 days’ notice.“We expect to enter into additional similar services contracts,” the filing stated.The move has given xAI a hybrid stance in the AI market. Most players either build data centers for themselves or build data centers for others to use — rarely both simultaneously. This emerging model, sometimes called a “neocloud,” lets AI companies offset infrastructure costs by acting as a cloud provider when their own usage falls short of capacity.SpaceX argues the arrangement is a savvy use of resources. “We believe our dual monetization strategy provides multiple pathways to generate returns on invested capital,” it wrote. But the subtext is hard to miss: xAI appears to have overbuilt its compute capacity and needed to find a way to monetize it ahead of a public offering. Usage of Grok — xAI’s flagship AI assistant — hasdropped significantlyin recent months, freeing up servers that the company is now selling to one of its closest competitors.TopicsAI,Anthropic,colossus,data centers,SpaceX,xAIMay 27Athens, GreeceStrictlyVC Athens is up next. Hear unfiltered insights straight from Europe’s tech leaders and connect with the people shaping what’s ahead. Lock in your spot before it’s gone.REGISTER NOWNewslettersSee MoreSubscribe for the industry’s biggest tech newsTechCrunch Daily NewsEvery weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.TechCrunch MobilityTechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.Startups WeeklyStartups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.StrictlyVCProvides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day.No newsletters selected.SubscribeBy submitting your email, you agree to ourTermsandPrivacy Notice.RelatedSpaceThe SpaceX IPO filing is filled with AI bets, Starship dreams, and Elon Musk at the centerSean O’KaneKirsten Korosec4 hours agoAIxAI burned $6.4B last year — SpaceX’s IPO filing shows why the spending is far from overRebecca Bellan4 hours agoAIMusk’s xAI is being sued over its data center generators — now it’s buying $2.8B moreTim De Chant5 hours agoLatest in AIEnterpriseJensen Huang says he’s found a ‘brand new’ $200B market for NvidiaJulie Bort2 hours agoIn BriefAnthropic says it’s about to have its first profitable quarterLucas Ropek3 hours agoMedia & EntertainmentClouted wants to take the guesswork out of making short videos go viralMarina Temkin4 hours ago