Anthropic signs first Australia data centre agreement

AI behemoth Anthropic inked its maiden data centre lease in Australia, leveraging a propitious political climate and bountiful renewable energy resources to secure a slot for what could be one of the world's largest computing installations. The lease encompasses a data centre complex with a projected capacity of 2.16 gigawatts, comparable to some of the biggest facilities currently in operation globally.

The proposed site, situated on farmland roughly 250 kilometers (150 miles) from Brisbane, is slated to commence operations in 2027, according to sources familiar with the transaction.

This agreement positions Anthropic among the latest major AI players to establish a presence in Australia, following OpenAI's off-take deal for a Sydney data centre last year. As companies vie to secure power and establish a foothold in a nation lauded as a cost-effective, renewable energy-abundant alternative to more saturated markets in the U.S. and Asia, Anthropic's move underscores the growing allure of Australia as a strategic hub for AI infrastructure.

Anthropic's chief executive, Dario Amodei, recently urged AI companies to temper the pace of model development advancements due to growing concerns over potential misuse of artificial intelligence technology. This call for moderation resonated with other industry leaders, including Elon Musk, who heads up rival AI startup xAI, and Sam Altman, the entrepreneur behind OpenAI.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently dismissed critics of AI as "very negative forces" who were raising alarm over scenarios that are unlikely to materialize.