Anthropic, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup that operates the Claude chatbot, is reportedly preparing to go public. The move could take place as early as the beginning of 2026. The company, led by Dario Amodei, has hired the law firm Wilson Sonsini to assist with preparations. Wilson Sonsini has experience with major technology IPOs, including those of Google, LinkedIn, and Lyft. However, Anthropic emphasizes that it has not yet decided when or whether it will go public at all.
According to information from the Financial Times, which has been cited by other sources, Anthropic is discussing a potential initial public offering (IPO) with major investment banks. However, these talks are still at an early and informal stage, so the company has not yet selected any underwriters for the IPO. The goal could be to raise capital more efficiently and improve its position for major acquisitions using publicly traded shares.
Major growth plans
Anthropic expects significant growth. According to estimates, the company should nearly triple its annualized revenue to approximately $26 billion in 2026, equivalent to about CZK 585 billion. This would be a huge leap from its current level. The company already has more than 300,000 business and enterprise customers, putting it in a strong position in the AI market.
Anthropic is currently negotiating private financing that could value it at more than $300 billion, or about CZK 6.75 trillion. The company recently secured investments of up to $15 billion from Microsoft and Nvidia, and in return committed to spending $30 billion on Microsoft Azure cloud services. All of this follows its recent valuation of $183 billion, equivalent to more than CZK 4 trillion.
Race with rival OpenAI
Anthropic is not alone in its IPO plans. Its main rival, OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed company behind the ChatGPT chatbot, is also preparing its own public offering. It could reach a valuation of up to $1 trillion, approximately CZK 22.5 trillion. OpenAI could file with regulators as early as the second half of 2026, but its CFO, Sarah Friar, recently said that a filing is not among the company’s immediate plans.
Both companies operate in the rapidly growing AI sector, where investor interest is increasing as businesses spend more on technology. Anthropic was founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees and is expanding rapidly. For example, it recently hired Krishna Rao, a former Airbnb executive who helped with the company’s IPO in 2020. The company also announced plans to build data centers in Texas and New York for $50 billion (approximately CZK 1.125 trillion) and to triple its international workforce.
Anthropic focuses on safe and ethical AI, which sets it apart from the competition. Its Claude chatbot is popular among businesses looking for an alternative to ChatGPT. According to reports, an IPO could help Anthropic "seize the initiative" ahead of OpenAI, as investors are enthusiastic about the company’s potential. Nevertheless, concerns remain about an AI-sector "bubble," in which companies often report losses despite high valuations.
Sources: reuters.com and cnbc.com
