Cerebras Has a $25.4 Billion Backlog, and One OpenAI Agreement Is Behind Much of It

By most measures, Cerebras Systems (NASDAQ:CBRS) delivered an outstanding second quarter.

The artificial intelligence (AI) computing specialist grew its non-GAAP (adjusted) revenue 103% year over year to $209.9 million. Its inference cloud business nearly quadrupled, and management raised its full-year outlook to a range of $880 million to $890 million in adjusted revenue.

Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue "

But the most important number in the mid-August update wasn't on the income statement at all. Cerebras ended June with $25.4 billion in remaining performance obligations, the backlog of contracted work it hasn't yet delivered or recognized as revenue. That's nearly 29 times the revenue management expects for all of 2026, a figure lifted by data center costs passed through to OpenAI.

A figure that large deserves scrutiny. The company's own filings say where to look: at a single agreement with OpenAI.

Image source: Getty Images.

The backlog arrived almost all at once

In December 2025, Cerebras signed a master relationship agreement with the ChatGPT maker under which OpenAI committed to purchase 750 megawatts of computing capacity for AI inference -- a deal Cerebras has valued at more than $20 billion. OpenAI also holds an option to buy an additional 1.25 gigawatts of capacity by the end of 2030.

Remaining performance obligations were $24.6 billion at the close of 2025, then edged up to $25.0 billion in March and $25.4 billion in June. The balance grew only about 3% over the first half of 2026. Nearly all of it was on the books before 2026 began. And Cerebras says in its latest quarterly filing that a significant amount of the balance is attributable to its obligations under the OpenAI agreement.

Cerebras recognized $56.8 million of revenue under the arrangement in the second quarter, or about 32% of the company's $180.1 million in revenue under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which grew 74% year over year.

When does the backlog become revenue?

The backlog converts slowly, by design. Cerebras expects to recognize only about 22% of the $25.4 billion (about $5.6 billion) over the 24 months ending June 30, 2028.

Another 43% should arrive between months 25 and 48, with the rest coming later. Of course, the timing can shift at the customer's request.