Anthropic revenue jumps 1,100pc as AI giant prepares for IPO

Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence company, reported a staggering 1,100% increase in quarterly revenue and nearly US$900 billion in spending commitments as it prepares for an IPO later this month. Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers, including CEO Dario Amodei and President Daniela Amodei, Anthropic's focus is on AI safety.

The San Francisco-based firm's revenue reached US$17 billion in the third quarter, up from US$1.4 billion a year earlier. However, sales growth slowed due to intense competition from OpenAI's ChatGPT and cheaper models, many from China. Anthropic disclosed a net loss of US$23.3 billion for the July-September period, primarily due to non-cash accounting charges linked to its rising valuation.

The company also posted an operating loss of US$567 million in the same period, as it increased spending on short-term computing capacity. The filing stated that Anthropic has committed to spending approximately US$895 billion on computing power, with US$70 billion due before September 2027. The IPO will be a significant test of investor confidence in the AI boom, as the company plans to raise around US$100 billion in its initial public offering, with a valuation between US$1.5 trillion and US$2 trillion.

The recent earnings triggered a sell-off in big tech stocks, highlighting concerns about AI spending without clear returns. Anthropic's filing devoted over 90 pages to potential risks, including AI systems behaving unpredictably and harmfully. As a public benefit corporation, Anthropic is legally obligated to balance its mission of developing AI safely with shareholder returns.

Co-founders will control 50.1% of shareholder voting power through a single special share, limiting investor influence on the company's direction. The IPO follows other major AI firms, like Meta and Alphabet, launching fundraising plans on the public markets. Oracle also announced its US$20 billion plan despite doubts about its financial exposure.