Blackstone Backs AI Services Venture With Anthropic, Sees QTS Headcount Quadruple to 40,000
Formed an AI services venture with Anthropic, Hellman & Friedman and Goldman Sachs, backed by General Atlantic, Apollo and Sequoia to integrate Claude across portfolio companies. QTS, Blackstone’s data-center arm, will expand its workforce from 10,000 to 40,000 by year-end as billions flow into AI infrastructure, driving blue-collar job growth.
1. Formation of AI Services Venture
Blackstone joined Hellman & Friedman, Goldman Sachs and Anthropic to establish an AI services venture backed by General Atlantic, Apollo and Sequoia. The firm will deploy engineering teams to integrate Claude into portfolio companies in healthcare, manufacturing and financial services, offering training, certification and bespoke AI system development.
2. QTS Data-Center Job Surge
Blackstone’s QTS data-center arm plans to expand its workforce from 10,000 to 40,000 workers by year-end as the firm directs billions into AI infrastructure projects. President Jon Gray highlighted that this surge in hiring will drive substantial blue-collar employment growth in regions hosting major data-center developments.