Nikkei says five Big Tech firms have $1.65T in hidden AI-related debt
GaryMarcus · x · 2026-07-21
Nikkei’s investigation says Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle now have $1.65 trillion in off-balance-sheet obligations tied to GPU contracts, data center leases, and JVs — more than the $1.35 trillion they report on balance sheet.
The cited report says these commitments don’t count as debt under accounting rules until facilities go live. Meta’s hidden debt is said to reach $420 billion, about 3× its reported debt, while Oracle’s has expanded 30-fold in four years.
Related event: Tech Giants Accused of Hiding $1.65 Trillion in AI Debt(3 posts)→
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