Anthropic, the AI firm known for the popular Claude chatbot, is reportedly in initial discussions to initiate one of the largest public offerings possibly as soon as next year, according to the Financial Times on Wednesday.
For the upcoming IPO, Anthropic has enlisted the services of the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, recognized for handling noteworthy tech IPOs like Google, LinkedIn, and Lyft, the FT noted, referencing two insiders familiar with the situation.
The startup, headed by CEO Dario Amodei, is also seeking a private funding round that may value it over $300 billion, which includes a combined commitment of $15 billion from Microsoft and Nvidia, as per the report.
It was also mentioned that Anthropic has held discussions regarding a possible IPO with leading investment banks, though those conversations were described by sources as early and informal.
If accurate, this information could place Anthropic in competition with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which is also said to be preparing for a public offering. Such listings would test investors’ willingness to invest in unprofitable AI startups amid rising concerns of a potential AI bubble.
Nevertheless, an Anthropic representative informed the FT: “For companies of our size and revenue, it’s quite common to act as if they are publicly traded,” adding that no conclusions have been reached regarding timing or going public.
CNBC could not get in contact with Anthropic or Wilson Sonsini, which has been providing advice to Anthropic for several years, for a response.
One of the FT’s sources indicated that Anthropic has been preparing internally for a potential listing, although specific details were not disclosed.
The FT article follows multiple recent changes within the company, including the appointment of former Airbnb executive Krishna Rao, who was instrumental in the firm’s 2020 IPO.
CNBC also reported last month that Anthropic’s valuation recently reached around $350 billion following substantial investments of up to $5 billion from Microsoft and $10 billion from Nvidia.
In its quest to surpass OpenAI in the AI market, the startup is aggressively expanding, recently revealing a $50 billion build-out of AI infrastructure with new data centers in Texas and New York, and tripling its global workforce.
According to the FT report, stakeholders in the company are optimistic about the potential IPO, which could allow it to “assume the lead” over OpenAI.
While OpenAI has been rumored to be exploring an IPO, its CFO recently stated that the company is not seeking a listing in the near term, despite having completed a $6.6 billion share sale at a $500 billion valuation in October.
