Akamai vs Amazon Web Services (AWS)

a16z Leads Series A in Private Network Startup doxxnet

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) announced it is leading a Series A investment in doxxnet, a startup building a private, parallel internet infrastructure for individuals and AI agents. doxxnet offers a software-defined global network with non-Internet domains, encrypted peer-to-peer communication, and DNS-level threat protection, all without requiring personal information like email or phone. The company is founded by Barrett Lyon, known for Prolexic (acquired by Akamai), BitGravity, and Defense.net. The funding will support the development of its 'Agentic Defined Networking' concept, which allows users and their agents to configure and control the network. The announcement highlights growing privacy needs driven by AI agents that operate with access to user data.

• a16z is leading a Series A investment in doxxnet.
• doxxnet provides a private, parallel internet infrastructure for users and AI agents.
• doxxnet was founded by Barrett Lyon, who previously founded Prolexic, BitGravity, and Defense.net.

Akamai Announces $11.6 Billion Multi-year Agreement with Anthropic to Support Growing Demand

Akamai today announced a significantly expanded relationship with Anthropic for $11.6 billion of contractual commitment over seven years.

AI companies adopt risky 'take-or-pay' contracts for compute

The AI industry is increasingly relying on take-or-pay contracts to secure computing power, a model borrowed from the energy sector. These agreements require AI companies to pay for GPUs, server time, and other inputs regardless of usage, creating significant financial risks. The payments are backed by expected future revenue, but there are concerns about whether AI revenues will materialize in time to meet payment schedules. Off-balance-sheet commitments are growing, with estimates ranging from $1.65 trillion to $3 trillion. Major players like Anthropic and OpenAI have committed billions, while companies like CoreWeave and Alphabet rely heavily on such contracts. Financial analysts and regulators warn that the entire system could collapse if companies fail to secure enough capital. The Bank of International Settlements has highlighted potential systemic risks, particularly through special purpose vehicles. The article notes that major banks and investors are closely monitoring this trend, with experts predicting a 'wave of disputes' as the sector matures.

• Take-or-pay contracts obligate AI companies to pay for compute regardless of usage, similar to energy sector agreements.
• Anthropic committed $750 billion for compute through 2030; OpenAI could spend over $500 billion in the next 10 years.
• Off-balance-sheet commitments in tech sector estimated at $1.65 trillion to $3 trillion.

AWS Launches 'Built Together' Community Program for Data Centers

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced new initiatives to counter criticism over its data center expansion in the U.S., including a $1 billion investment over five years for community programs focusing on education, workforce training, energy efficiency, water conservation, and local infrastructure. Additionally, AWS introduced the 'Amazon Data Center Commitment' with pledges on energy, water, transparency, and employment, and has ceased using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with government agencies for new projects. CEO Matt Garman addressed data center 'myths', citing that generators run only about 10 hours per year and that water consumption is 0.5% of industrial use, while highlighting over $1 billion in community contributions in the past three years. These actions come amid over 100 proposed moratoriums on data centers across the U.S.

• AWS invested over $1 billion in communities with data centers over five years.
• AWS stopped using nondisclosure agreements with government agencies for new data centers.
• AWS data center generators run roughly 10 hours per year (99.9% idle).

Braze and AWS Sign Strategic Collaboration Agreement

Braze, a leading customer engagement platform, announced a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) at its Forge 2026 conference. The collaboration aims to expand generative AI capabilities, deepen industry innovation, and help brands derive more value from their investments in both Braze and AWS. Key initiatives include integrating Amazon Bedrock into BrazeAI Agent Console™ for AI-powered customer engagement, expanding availability on AWS infrastructure in Asia Pacific regions (Japan and South Korea), and growing procurement through AWS Marketplace. Braze reports significant scale, processing 25.8 trillion data points and 10.2 trillion API calls in 2025. The agreement also builds on Braze's AWS Competency designations across retail, media, travel, and other verticals, with a focus on vertical-specific solutions. Notable customer Bundesliga plans to leverage the expanded collaboration for enhanced fan experiences.

• Braze signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with AWS at Forge 2026 conference.
• Braze integrates Amazon Bedrock into BrazeAI Agent Console™ for AI-powered customer engagement.
• Braze expanded availability on AWS in Asia Pacific Regions (Japan and South Korea).

OpenAI launches reusable Codex cloud environments

At its Dev Day, OpenAI announced new capabilities for its software engineering agent Codex, including reusable cloud development environments accessible from any device. These environments are more persistent and configurable, allowing faster task startup and shared team workspaces. The updated Codex CLI supports voice commands, and a new /agents view helps delegate and track tasks. Codex can now be integrated into code review within the ChatGPT desktop app, enabling summaries and feedback on GitHub and GitLab. Additionally, OpenAI introduced Codex Security Cloud for repository scanning and fix preparation, leveraging models from its Daybreak Blue initiative. API updates include a Decisions API using Luna and an updated Agents API with computer use and AWS Bedrock integration.

• OpenAI announced reusable cloud environments for its engineering agent Codex at Dev Day.
• The Codex CLI update adds voice commands for starting and directing tasks.
• A new /agents view helps delegate and track multiple tasks.