A rapid string of funding rounds has propelled AI startups to valuations that are doubling and tripling within months, while data‑center and compute suppliers have taken on roughly $96 billion in debt to meet AI demand, according to reporting by industry analysts and the Financial Times. Companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI have seen dramatic uplifts in valuation; service providers including CoreWeave and other infrastructure partners have borrowed heavily to scale capacity. The twin dynamics — dizzying private valuations and outsized leverage at suppliers — heighten financial risks for the broader AI ecosystem. Universities that partner with industry on compute‑intensive research or host shared infrastructure could face supply‑chain disruptions or tougher contract terms as lenders and hyperscalers reassess exposure.