July 18, 2026
Anthropic funds groups to stop 40% of US data center builds
Synthesized from 3 podcast conversations, Bloomberg Tech, Sourcery with Molly O'Shea, All-In Podcast· see sources →Ask Sonic: what's the outlook on ai?Search →Anthropic is funding groups to slow AI development and data center builds, signaling an industry now actively creating its own bottlenecks.
The argument
The AI economy is entering a new phase defined by deliberate internal friction, where major players actively seek to constrain growth and shape regulatory outcomes, even as external geopolitical pressures and physical infrastructure limits intensify. This suggests a market where the race for AI dominance is shifting from pure technological acceleration to strategic control over its foundational resources and policy environment, creating a highly contested and constrained future.
Explore the people & shows behind this
US Data Centers Mothballed
40%
PJM Power Auction Bids
156 MW (7-8 GW sought)
SambaNova Funding Round
$1B at $11B valuation
PayPal Peak Valuation
$322B (now $60/share offer)
PayPal Acquisition Bid
Stripe, Block, and Advent offer to acquire PayPal for $60 per share; Block contributes $17 billion equity. PayPal's valuation fell from a $322 billion peak, noted Jason Calacanis on the All-In Podcast.
Legacy fintech is being aggressively re-rated and consolidated by new-guard players. Practitioners should watch for similar plays on other mature tech platforms. > Watch: Other legacy fintech valuations, Square's integration strategy
Data Center Energy Crisis
Go deeper
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40% of planned US data center projects are mothballed due to energy constraints. PJM sought 7-8 gigawatts but received 156 megawatts in bids, cited Chamath Palihapitiya on the All-In Podcast.
Physical energy limits are now the primary bottleneck for US AI expansion. Practitioners must factor severe energy constraints into AI infrastructure planning. > Watch: Grid upgrades, new energy projects, utility policy
SambaNova's $11B Valuation
AI systems company SambaNova closed a $1 billion fundraising round at an $11 billion valuation. CEO Rodrigo Liang stated on Sourcery with Molly O'Shea total raised is $2.5 billion, signaling strong investor confidence.
Despite bottlenecks and industry friction, investor confidence in frontier AI remains robust. Capital is still readily available for core AI compute leaders. > Watch: SambaNova's next product cycle, customer adoption rates
China's AI Influence Operations
OpenAI reported China-linked influence operations are targeting US AI debates. Chamath Palihapitiya highlighted on the All-In Podcast these campaigns aim to shape American attitudes on AI and data centers.
Geopolitical competition over AI extends to information warfare, shaping public opinion. Practitioners must recognize the AI regulatory environment is a battleground for state-sponsored influence. > Watch: US government response to influence operations
Anthropic's AI Guardrail Strategy
Anthropic reportedly funds groups to encourage tougher AI guardrails, making new data center builds harder. David Sacks cited on the All-In Podcast this strategy aims to slow AI development.
Major AI players actively engage in regulatory capture and strategic obstruction to slow competitors. Practitioners should anticipate more internal industry lobbying. > Watch: Anthropic's policy wins, competitor responses
AlphaFold Biotech Breakthrough
Calico and Revel Pharma researchers used AlphaFold to engineer an enzyme removing 52% to 97% of an aging molecule from human proteins in lab tests. David Friedberg explained on the All-In Podcast the enzyme targets CML.
AI's profound impact may be in accelerating scientific discovery in non-AI biotech. Practitioners should look for AI's enabling role in fundamental science breakthroughs. > Watch: Clinical trials for CML enzyme, AlphaFold's next biotech application
Apple's China AI Partnership
Apple partners with Baidu for search and an OpenAI chatbot replacement within Apple Intelligence for China. Mark Gurman added on Bloomberg Tech iPhones will use Alibaba technology as a censorship filter.
Global tech giants navigate extreme geopolitical fragmentation in AI, requiring country-specific partnerships and accepting censorship. Practitioners must prepare for a bifurcated AI future. > Watch: Apple's next China AI moves, other tech giants' China strategies
The AI industry is now actively creating its own bottlenecks through strategic lobbying and geopolitical maneuvering, even as physical constraints and external state-sponsored influence intensify. Track these insights in real time on Sonic AI, https://usesonicai.com
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