The Money-Go-Round

This diagram, with uncertain provenance, does seem plausible.

What’s the equivalent for Anthropic?

This one is also an interesting piece of specultation:

From The Information’s piece “OpenAI Eases Away From Microsoft Data Centers”:

OpenAI and Microsoft soared to new heights by developing and sharing artificial intelligence, specialized servers and product revenue with each other. Microsoft’s cash has paid for nearly all of that work.”

After marching in lockstep, their relationship is changing. Last week, after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar raised $6.6 billion in capital, mostly from a slew of financial firms, they told some employees OpenAI would play a greater role in lining up data centers and AI chips to develop technology rather than relying solely on Microsoft, according to a person who heard the remarks.”

“Friar previously told some shareholders Microsoft hadn’t moved fast enough to supply OpenAI with enough computing power—hence the need to pursue other data center deals, which it had started to do, said a person who was involved in the conversation. For instance, OpenAI’s growing impatience with Microsoft recently prompted it to arrange an unusual data center deal in Texas with one of Microsoft’s rivals.”

The core area of course is around the ‘AI Table Stakes’ going into 2025 on much larger AI data center and Power infrastructure than exists for any big tech company currently.

“The companies previously included a provision in their contract that gave OpenAI room to work on such deals, despite agreeing to make Microsoft its exclusive cloud server provider, said a different person with knowledge of their agreement.”

“Taking more control of data center plans could help OpenAI stay ahead of rivals such as Anthropic and xAI, which aren’t locked into a single cloud provider.”