Anthropic faces cloud supply strain as hyperscalers view it as a rival

Anthropic, the maker of Claude, is finding it difficult to obtain sufficient cloud computing resources from AWS, Google and Microsoft, according to a leaked S-1 filing cited by The Wall Street Journal. The filing reveals that these hyperscalers increasingly see Anthropic as a competitor, complicating its ability to secure cloud contracts, which could total over $750 billion. Some deals are still under negotiation, but even with these, Anthropic is turning to leasing its own data centres and working with third-party operators, whose reliability is uncertain due to their limited operating history.

The company’s filings also outline significant financial pressures, including an $80.7 billion net loss in the first half of the year and reliance on just two customers for about 20% of sales. Anthropic’s risk disclosures warn it could face liability for damages from harmful AI behaviour that exceed its insurance cover. The company reported a 45% rise in third-quarter revenue, reaching $16.8 billion, and is reportedly targeting a November IPO.

For regulated industries, Anthropic’s supply chain and liability risks are a concern if they depend on its AI products. The reliability of third-party data centre operators and the potential for uninsured losses may affect risk assessments and procurement decisions. The outcome of Anthropic’s IPO and its ability to secure stable cloud partnerships will be closely watched.