US artificial intelligence company Anthropic is preparing to enter the stock market through an upcoming initial public offering, a move that could place it among the largest companies to go public in the United States and boost competition in the AI sector.
Anthropic has filed to begin the offering process, amid expectations that its shares could be listed on Wall Street next month. Anthropic has not yet disclosed the target size of the offering, the final valuation of the company, or the expected share price.
Competing for the largest IPOs in the US market
The upcoming offering could rival major deals seen in US markets, including the offering that raised $68 billion for SpaceX last June, according to the source. Anthropic's listing could also give the company a more advanced position in the AI race, at a time when markets are anticipating the moves of its rival, OpenAI.
Founded about five years ago, Anthropic is best known for developing the AI assistant Claude. Entering the stock market would open up broader avenues for the company to secure the funding needed to expand its operations and accelerate the development of its technologies.
Revenue growth does not prevent continued losses
The offering filing submitted by the company indicates rapid revenue growth, but Anthropic has not yet reached profitability. According to figures in the report, the company recorded net losses of $80.7 billion during the first half of this year, compared to losses of $13 billion during the same period the previous year.
These figures highlight the challenge facing fast-growing AI companies, as competition requires developing technical models, expanding infrastructure, and continuous investment, even as revenues rise.
Funding expansion and strengthening the company's position
The IPO, if completed, is expected to provide an additional source of funding to help Anthropic support its future plans. However, the potential funding size will remain tied to the valuation the company settles on and market conditions at the time of the offering.
The move comes weeks after CEO Dario Amodei called for slowing the pace of developing the latest AI models, in a debate that reflects the balance companies seek to achieve between accelerating innovation and addressing the risks associated with these technologies.
Between commercial expansion and development spending, the upcoming offering could represent a significant milestone in Anthropic's journey, and will give investors a new opportunity to evaluate the future of companies that make AI the core of their growth.
