US model maker Anthropic has struck a deal to rent AI compute capacity from UK-based data centre startup Nscale in a deal worth $45bn over the next six years. The deal would enable Anthropic to access 460 megawatts of power using chipmaker Nvidia’s new Vera Rubin processor at Nscale’s West Virginia data centre development, according to a Bloomberg report. The deal comes as AI makers are still struggling to increase the amount of compute power they can access to run their models.

UK-based Nscale, founded in 2024, is a so-called “neocloud”, offering companies computing power aimed at AI inference and training. The startup is building data centres in five countries, including the UK. Nscale is backed by investors including Nokia, Nvidia, Dell and Blue Owl, and has raised over $5bn in funding.

The startup is also targeting an IPO this year. Nscale previously struck deals with the likes of Microsoft to supply compute capacity. However it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the company: a partnership with Open AI was paused owing to high energy costs, while last month reports suggested that Nscale’s UK data centre will be delayed due to grid problems.

Nscale has also become part of the push to decrease Europe’s reliance on foreign computing power.