Anthropic, the AI safety company, is reportedly preparing for a potential IPO as early as 2026. The company has engaged Wilson Sonsini, a law firm experienced in tech IPOs, to assist with the preparations. This move signals Anthropic's shift towards public-market readiness, including tightening financial controls and drafting risk disclosures tailored to AI. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, is also in early talks with investment banks. An IPO could value Anthropic at over $300 billion.
Anthropic's focus on AI safety and responsible development differentiates it from competitors. The company operates as a Public Benefit Corporation with a Long-Term Benefit Trust, which will hold a special class of shares with board-election rights. This unique governance structure aims to ensure the pursuit of safety and reliability. Anthropic's potential IPO is expected to test the public market's appetite for high-valuation AI companies and could set a precedent for future AI listings.
Anthropic is experiencing rapid growth, with revenue targets of $26 billion in 2026 and $70 billion by 2028. The company's recent acquisition of Bun, a JavaScript tooling company, highlights its ambition to become a vertically integrated AI firm. Anthropic plans to incorporate Bun into its coding products, particularly Claude Code, which has reached a $1 billion annualised run rate.
