Anthropic Secures Google AI Chips to Advance Claude Chatbot

Anthropic is significantly expanding its collaboration with Google, securing access to up to one million of the tech giant’s artificial intelligence chips. This deal, valued at tens of billions of USD, aims to accelerate the development of its Claude AI models in a competitive market.

Credit: Anthropic

Under the terms of the expanded deal, Anthropic will gain access to over one gigawatt of computing capacity. This capacity is scheduled to come online in 2026.

The computing power will be used to train future generations of its Claude AI model on Google’s in-house tensor processing units, or TPUs. These TPUs were traditionally reserved for Google’s internal use.

Anthropic selected TPUs due to their price-performance ratio, efficiency, and its existing experience in training and serving its Claude models with the processors.

This agreement highlights the intense demand for chips within the artificial intelligence industry. Companies are rapidly developing technology to potentially match or surpass human intelligence.

Credit: GOOGLE

Alphabet-owned Google will also provide additional cloud computing services to Anthropic. Google Cloud offers TPUs for rent, providing an alternative to the supply-constrained Nvidia chips.

Rival OpenAI recently secured multiple deals that may cost over USD 1 trillion. These deals are for about 26 gigawatts of computing capacity, enough power for roughly 20 million US homes.

Industry executives have indicated that one gigawatt of compute can cost approximately USD 50 billion. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI actively utilises Nvidia’s graphics processing units and AMD’s AI chips to meet its increasing demand.

Reuters exclusively reported Anthropic is projecting a substantial increase in its annualized revenue run rate next year. This could involve more than doubling and potentially nearly tripling its current revenue.

The projected growth is fuelled by the rapid adoption of Anthropic’s enterprise products. The startup focuses on AI safety and creating models for various enterprise use cases.

Anthropic’s models have also played a role in powering the boom of vibe coding startups, including Cursor.

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• Anthropic is expanding its deal with Google to access up to one million AI chips.

• The agreement, valued at tens of billions of USD, will support the training of future Claude AI models.

• Anthropic will gain over one gigawatt of computing capacity, available from 2026, using Google’s TPUs.

Source: REUTERS

China's VR Sector Expands as Conference Highlights Investment

More than 10,000 virtual reality (VR) companies were operating in China by the end of 2024. This significant growth was announced at the 2025 World Conference on VR Industry (WCVRI) in Nanchang, the capital of east China's Jiangxi Province.

Credit: VCG

Chief engineer Xie Shaofeng of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that the country's VR sector has established a self-reliant industrial system. It also features a diversified, integrated application ecosystem, and a relatively complete industrial ecology.

Xie added that positive results have been achieved in breakthrough core technologies, the development of standards, and technological integration. The standards formulated have guided and ensured the industry's standardised development.

In recent years, China has formulated over 30 national standards for the VR industry. The country has also led the creation of nearly 10 international standards in key fields, including virtual digital humans and VR terminal equipment.

The Jiangxi provincial government has hosted six sessions of the WCVRI in Nanchang to date. The conference generated USD 530 million in new technology investment.

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• China had over 10,000 VR companies by the end of 2024.

• This expansion was highlighted at the 2025 World Conference on VR Industry (WCVRI) in Nanchang.

• Chief engineer Xie Shaofeng noted the VR sector's self-reliant industrial system and integrated application ecosystem.

Source: CGTN

Baidu, PostBus to Launch Robotaxi Service in Switzerland

Baidu, the Chinese artificial intelligence giant, is partnering with Swiss public transport operator PostBus to introduce robotaxi services in the eastern region of Switzerland. The two organisations plan to begin testing their on-demand AmiGo service in eastern Switzerland by December, with a full commercial launch by the first quarter of 2027 at the latest.

Credit: BAIDU

The joint venture aims to enhance smart mobility, supplementing the existing public transport network. Baidu and PostBus, a subsidiary of national postal service Swiss Post, announced they would scale up trials next year.

AmiGo will deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles. The proposed robotaxi coverage includes the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Switzerland comprises 26 cantons, which are the member states of the Swiss Confederation.

Commuters in the designated areas will be able to book either private or shared autonomous rides through the AmiGo service. The platform will use Baidu’s sixth-generation autonomous vehicle, the RT6.

The RT6 leverages the Apollo Autonomous Driving Foundation Model, enabling the vehicle to navigate complex urban environments autonomously. Baidu has globally deployed a fully driverless fleet of more than 1,000 Apollo Go vehicles.

General Manager of Overseas Business at Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group Zhang Liang stated, “We will work closely with PostBus to enhance smart mobility in Switzerland, supplementing the existing public transport network and contributing to the nation’s reputation for innovation.”

This PostBus partnership marks Baidu’s latest international expansion for its Apollo Go robotaxis. Apollo Go currently operates in more than 15 cities globally, including Hong Kong, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

In mainland China, Apollo Go robotaxis operate in more than 10 major cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai. The collaboration in Switzerland follows other international ventures.

Credit: BAIDU

Earlier, Baidu partnered with US ride-hailing firm Lyft to launch robotaxis in Germany, and the UK as early as 2026, pending approval from local regulators. Previously, Baidu and American ride-hailing pioneer Uber Technologies agreed to a multi-year venture to deploy thousands of Apollo Go robotaxis in markets outside the US and China.

Other Chinese autonomous driving companies, including Pony.ai, Momenta, and WeRide, have formed similar alliances with Uber to deploy robotaxis in various international markets, especially across Europe and the Middle East.

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• Baidu and PostBus are launching an AmiGo robotaxi service in Switzerland.

• Testing of the service is set to begin by Dec., with commercial operations by early 2027.

• The service will deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles, including the RT6 model.

Source: SCMP