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.