Anthropic files for IPO, revealing soaring sales and AI risks

Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence company, made public its plans for an initial public offering (IPO) on Monday, revealing soaring sales alongside warnings of significant risks, in a major test of the AI sector's profitability. The filing shows first-half sales reached $16.3 billion, a 14-fold increase, with an operating profit of nearly $1 billion in the second quarter, though it reported an overall net loss of $80 billion due to accounting charges. The prospectus warns of dangers including AI systems acting autonomously and potential "catastrophic or existential risks to society," as well as conflicts with the Trump administration. The IPO, potentially valuing Anthropic between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion, would be the first by a standalone AI leader, ahead of rival OpenAI. A disappointing reception could dent investor enthusiasm for AI, a key US economic driver amid market bubble concerns. The company has committed hundreds of billions to computing capacity, and its founders will retain majority voting control.