Anthropic Mulls New AI Model Amid Investors’ Pre-IPO Worries

That’s according to a Friday (Sept. 18) report by Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the matter. The report noted that a new AI model could offset the momentum OpenAI has enjoyed since debuting its GPT-Astra.

Released earlier this month, GPT-6 Astra has gained momentum among business customers, leading investors to rethink Anthropic’s position as the leader in making enterprise AI tools, the report said. One source told Reuters Anthropic is evaluating the next model’s safety as it deliberates a possible release.

Some of those deliberations center on balancing investment in deploying new models with bolstering the company’s profitability, as higher interest rates make backers more focused on the timing of anticipated profits, the report said, citing sources familiar with Anthropic’s thinking.

A separate report by the Financial Times said investors are wondering whether Anthropic can maintain its growth in the face of competition, customer price sensitives and concerns about AI safety.

The startup’s annualized revenue reached $65 billion in July, and its backers predict it will top $120 billion by the end of the year, making Anthropic the fastest-growing business of all time. However, the report said, there is still considerable uncertainty over whether the company can sustain that pace, as seen from the wide range of IPO valuations estimated by investors familiar with the group’s performance: between $1.5 trillion and $4 trillion.