AI Hardware Costs Force Amazon to Shorten Server Lifespans, Dragging Free Cash Flow Negative

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Amazon revised the estimated useful life of some servers downward in 2025, citing rapid advances in AI and machine learning, a move it acknowledged would reduce operating income by roughly $1.3 billion through accelerated depreciation and related charges. The decision stood out because it was made even as AWS reported $42.2 billion in quarterly revenue and an AI business exceeding $25 billion in annualized run-rate. Despite strong earnings, Amazon's trailing-twelve-month free cash flow turned negative at $7.6 billion, driven by a $66.1 billion surge in property and equipment purchases tied primarily to AI infrastructure. In contrast, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta had all recently extended their server useful-life estimates, each booking billions in reduced depreciation and higher reported profits. Amazon's reversal highlights a broader tension in the AI buildout: the same investments generating revenue are also consuming capital at a pace that strains conventional financial metrics.

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ProgrammingDEV Community ·

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ProgrammingDEV Community ·

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