Anthropic, the AI startup behind the popular Claude chatbot, is reportedly gearing up for one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in history, potentially as early as next year. The Financial Times reports that the company has engaged law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, known for its work on high-profile tech IPOs such as Google, LinkedIn, and Lyft. This move comes as Anthropic aims to raise its valuation above $300 billion through a private funding round, with commitments from Microsoft and Nvidia totaling $15 billion. The startup has also discussed a potential IPO with major investment banks, though these talks are described as preliminary. If realized, this could position Anthropic in a race to market with rival ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, which is also reportedly laying the groundwork for a public offering. The potential listings would test investors' appetite for loss-making AI startups amid growing fears of an AI bubble. However, an Anthropic spokesperson told the FT that the company is operating as if it were already publicly traded, and no decisions have been made on timing or a public offering. The report follows recent changes at the company, including the hiring of former Airbnb executive Krishna Rao, who played a key role in Airbnb's 2020 IPO. CNBC also reported that Anthropic was recently valued at $350 billion after receiving investments of up to $5 billion from Microsoft and $10 billion from Nvidia. In its race to overtake OpenAI, Anthropic has been expanding aggressively, recently announcing a $50 billion AI infrastructure build-out with data centers in Texas and New York, and tripling its international workforce. Investors are enthusiastic about the potential IPO, which could see Anthropic 'seize the initiative' from OpenAI. While OpenAI has been rumored to be considering an IPO, its CFO recently stated that the company is not pursuing a near-term listing. The potential listings would be a significant event in the AI industry, with both companies vying for market leadership and investor attention.
