Anthropic, the company behind Claude, is reportedly preparing for one of the largest IPOs in history, potentially beating OpenAI to the public markets. The move comes as the AI startup secures a $350 billion valuation from Microsoft and Nvidia, setting up a high-stakes race between the sector's biggest players.
The AI arms race just shifted into overdrive. Anthropic, the startup behind Claude, is reportedly in early talks for what could become one of the largest initial public offerings in history, potentially beating rival OpenAI to the public markets.
The company has engaged Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the prestigious law firm that shepherded Google, LinkedIn, and Lyft through their landmark IPOs, according to Financial Times sources. The move signals serious intent from CEO Dario Amodei's team to capitalize on the AI boom while market conditions remain favorable.
But here's where it gets interesting - Anthropic isn't just planning an IPO. The company is simultaneously pursuing a private funding round that could value it above $300 billion, including a massive $15 billion combined commitment from Microsoft and Nvidia. That would put it just behind OpenAI's recent $500 billion valuation, setting up the most consequential market race in AI history.
"It's fairly standard practice for companies operating at our scale and revenue level to effectively operate as if they are publicly traded companies," an Anthropic spokesperson told the FT, though they emphasized no final decisions have been made on timing. The careful language suggests internal preparations are well underway.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. While OpenAI has been the AI poster child since ChatGPT's explosive debut, the company recently pumped the brakes on IPO plans. OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar said the company isn't pursuing a near-term listing, even after closing a $6.6 billion share sale in October. That hesitation creates a window for Anthropic to seize first-mover advantage in public AI markets.
The strategic moves extend beyond Wall Street. Anthropic has been aggressively expanding, recently announcing a $50 billion AI infrastructure build-out with data centers in Texas and New York. The company also tripled its international workforce and strategically hired former Airbnb executive Krishna Rao, who played a key role in that company's successful 2020 IPO.
