Anthropic, the AI startup that created the popular Claude chatbot, is in early talks to launch its biggest initial public offering as early as next year, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
Anthropic has partnered with law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, which has previously worked on high-profile tech IPOs such as Google, LinkedIn and Lyft, on a potential IPO, the FT reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The startup, led by CEO Dario Amodei, was also in the process of raising a private funding round that could value the company at more than $300 billion. microsoft and Nvidiaaccording to the report.
He added that Anthropic is also in talks with major investment banks about a possible IPO, but the sources characterized the talks as preliminary and informal.
If the news is true, Anthropic could enter a market race with rival ChatGPT developer OpenAI, which is also reportedly laying the groundwork for an initial public offering. A potential listing could also test investor appetite for loss-making AI startups amid growing concerns about a so-called AI bubble.
However, a spokesperson for Anthropic told the FT: “It is fairly standard practice for a company operating at our size and revenue level to operate effectively as if it were a listed company,” adding that no decision had yet been made on the timing or whether to list.
CNBC was unable to reach Anthropic and Wilson Sonsini, who has advised Anthropic for several years, for comment.
Anthropic is making internal preparations for a possible listing, one of the FT’s sources said, but details were not disclosed.
The FT’s report tracks some notable recent changes at the company, including the hiring of former Airbnb executive Krishna Rao, who played a key role in the company’s 2020 IPO.
CNBC also reported last month that Anthropic received investments of up to $5 billion from Microsoft and up to $10 billion from Nvidia, bringing its recent valuation to the $350 billion range.
In the race to overtake OpenAI in the AI space, the startup has also been aggressively expanding, recently announcing it would build a $50 billion AI infrastructure with data centers in Texas and New York and triple its international workforce.
The FT reports that the company’s investors are enthusiastic about Anthropic’s potential IPO, which could allow the company to “take the reins” from OpenAI.
OpenAI is rumored to be considering an IPO, but the company’s chief financial officer recently said the company is not pursuing a public listing in the near term, even though the company completed a $6.6 billion stock sale at a $500 billion valuation in October.
