Anthropic accused of 75%-off compute via Amazon deal; true 2026 cost may hit $80B
GaryMarcus · x · 2026-10-27
Gary Marcus amplifies an analysis based on Anthropic investor materials: the company spent $7.2B for 1.4 GW of compute in 2025 ($5.14B/GW) and is tracking 5 GW and $20B of spend in 2026 ($4.0B/GW), versus an industry standard of $16-22B per GW. The catch: a newly signed N-Scale contract for 2026 prices compute at $16B per GW — 4x what Anthropic reports in its filings — implying the Amazon deal effectively grants a 75% discount. At market rates, Anthropic's true 2026 compute cost would be closer to $80B rather than $20B, a pattern the author compares to dotcom-era tactics of delaying payments to inflate operating margins.
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