Sep 25, 2026 · 7 min
Akamai’s Anthropic deal tests AI infrastructure economics
Closing Bell: Akamai-Anthropic Contract, Microsoft Jumps, Meta's New AI Agent
The episode connects a huge AI-computing contract with the uneven market fortunes of technology and consumer companies.
- 1Akamai’s seven-year, $11.6 billion Anthropic agreement lifted shares while raising questions about growth and profitability.
- 2Microsoft gained as investors responded to a more unified Copilot strategy, while Meta fell despite its broader AI resurgence.
- 3Campbell’s dropped to levels unseen since 1994 as a weaker outlook, debt concerns, and a turnaround effort weighed on shares.
Don't miss
Akamai’s seven-year, $11.6 billion Anthropic contract becomes the episode’s clearest test of whether AI infrastructure spending can translate into profitable growth.
The brief
Akamai surged after signing a seven-year, $11.6 billion agreement to provide computing power to Anthropic, but its opening gain faded as investors weighed the deal’s profitability.
Microsoft advanced on a unified Copilot strategy, while Meta declined despite the larger AI-driven resurgence that has transformed sentiment since its metaverse-era skepticism.
Meta’s AI momentum remains tied to products such as Muse, showing how quickly investor enthusiasm can shift even when a company’s broader transformation continues.
Campbell’s fell below its May low to levels not seen since 1994, with a declining outlook, a Moody’s debt downgrade, and turnaround execution all in focus.
Together, the moves show markets separating AI winners from AI narratives—and punishing a consumer-staples company facing weak expectations and financial pressure.
What was said on this episode
3 statements · 2 positive · 1 negative
Meta has shifted decisively toward artificial intelligence rather than the metaverse.
“We're not doing that. Instead, we're living in a world where everyone's concerned about an AI apocalypse and Meta is going all in on it.”
Listen at 3:53
Meta shares have risen more than 700% since fall 2022.
“It's up more than 700% since the fall of 2022.”
Listen at 3:58
Betting against Mark Zuckerberg has so far been unsuccessful.
“counting out Zuckerberg is at least so far been a losing battle.”
Listen at 4:26
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Romaine Bostick
AnthropicListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.