Claude AI Developer Anthropic Accelerates Push for Potential Public Listing as Early as 2026

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Anthropic, a San Francisco-based AI startup that built Claude AI, is reportedly preparing for an IPO in 2026. The company has hired Wilson Sonsini, a US law firm for further discussions. According to Financial Times, the startup is aiming for a valuation of $300 billion by the end of 2026, aiming to nearly triple its annual revenue. 

Hiring Legal Counsel for Listing Readiness

The AI startup Anthropic has reportedly hired Wilson Sonsini to help prepare for a potential initial public offering. This IPO could happen as early as 2026. Wilson Sonsini has significant experience with Silicon Valley public debuts. The law firm previously handled the IPOs for companies like Google, LinkedIn, and Lyft.

However, an Anthropic spokesperson noted that no final decision has been made on going public. They said that companies operating at their scale "effectively operate as if they are publicly traded companies."

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The IPO would provide Anthropic a better way to raise large amounts of capital. The AI startup is currently negotiating a private funding round that may exceed $300 billion in valuation.

The High-Stakes Race Against OpenAI

Anthropic is in a critical race within the AI sector as its major rival is Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the maker of the popular ChatGPT. Both companies are engaged in a major competition to develop advanced AI systems - Artificial General Intelligence or AGI. Anthropic's reported IPO preparations could allow them to reach the public markets first. This move would let them seize the market initiative from OpenAI.

OpenAI is also laying the groundwork for its own IPO. It is reported that its initial public offering could be valued at approximately $1 trillion. This would make it one of the largest IPOs ever. 

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Anthropic has secured major backing from Microsoft and NVIDIA, who have made a combined investment of $15 billion. Investors are eager for Anthropic's public debut as they look into it as an early chance to capitalize on the AI boom. The competition is considered the "most consequential market race in AI hist