Anthropic signs first Australia data centre agreement

Anthropic's Australian lease would be for a data centre planned by Singapore-based developer Zerra DC which would source renewable power purchase agreements and bear grid connection costs without incurring costs to existing customers, said the people who could not be named because they were not authorised to comment to the media.

Anthropic and Zerra DC declined to comment.

The facility would be used for inference - or rapid, prediction-based processing - but not training, one of the people added. Australia has said its new AI rules will set limits to use of domestically produced content for training.

The site would also use a closed-loop, air-cooled system, which reduces the need for clean water when removing heat from servers, the people said.

The deal is subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.