Anthropic submitted paperwork to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday for an initial public offering (IPO). The company, known for its large language model Claude, aims to gain a competitive edge over rival OpenAI. Analysts suggest that being the first to go public could be significant, as investor interest may be limited for multiple major AI IPOs simultaneously.
The filing is nonbinding, allowing Anthropic the option to withdraw while the SEC reviews the application. Specific details regarding the number of shares and their pricing have not yet been disclosed. According to a company statement, the IPO will depend on market conditions and other factors.
Recently, Anthropic raised $65 billion in Series H funding, led by Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks, and Sequoia Capital. This funding round indicates a valuation of approximately $965 billion for the company. A successful public offering would provide additional capital for ongoing research and infrastructure development.
Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees Dario and Daniela Amodei, Anthropic focuses on AI safety and research, aiming to create AI systems that are reliable and interpretable. The company is currently in a dispute with the Department of War over its refusal to provide services for lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. CEO Dario Amodei has defended the company's position, stating that they cannot comply with the department's demands.
In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump criticized Anthropic's stance and directed federal agencies to cease using the company's technology, citing national security concerns. The company is also facing legal challenges, with government lawyers arguing that it poses an unacceptable risk to national security in a court filing.
Anthropic's IPO filing occurs shortly before the anticipated IPO of rival SpaceX on June 12.
