Anthropic, a prominent American artificial intelligence company, announced on Monday that it has initiated the process for a U.S. initial public offering (IPO), positioning itself ahead of its competitor OpenAI in a race to go public.
The creators of the Claude chatbot revealed minimal details in the announcement on Monday but confirmed that they had submitted a confidential filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a potential IPO of their common stock.
This development marks an early examination of the investor interest in artificial intelligence, a sector that has seen soaring private valuations and discussions of trillion-dollar listings. The outcome will not only test the market’s appetite for AI but also determine which company will establish the valuation standards for this rapidly expanding industry.
Headquartered in California, Anthropic did not disclose the specifics regarding the size or terms of the offering. The company had previously secured $65 billion US in its last funding round in late May, reaching a post-money valuation of $965 billion US, surpassing its rival OpenAI.
If the IPO proceeds, it would mark one of the most significant stock market debuts in recent years, potentially reshaping benchmark indexes, investor interests, and the overarching narrative in the U.S. equities market.
In May, Reuters reported that OpenAI was also gearing up for a confidential U.S. IPO filing in the near future. This follows the anticipated mega-IPO of SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, which aims to raise $75 billion US at a valuation of $1.75 trillion US, with trading expected to commence within two weeks.
Confidential filings enable companies to advance their IPO preparations while safeguarding sensitive financial information from competitors and the public eye.
Kat Liu, vice president at IPO research firm IPOX, commented that by filing shortly after SpaceX, Anthropic can leverage the current strong investor interest in AI and growth stocks. She noted that Anthropic’s valuation ambitions appear more conservative compared to SpaceX.
OpenAI and Anthropic have emerged as major players in the AI industry, reshaping corporate strategies and igniting a global competition for talent and computing power. These companies now stand as some of the most highly valued entities in the market.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, mentioned in a CNBC interview that the company is not fixated on the timing of a potential IPO following Anthropic’s filing. He emphasized that OpenAI will go public when the timing is appropriate.
Anthropic’s valuation has surged from $380 billion US in February to over $700 billion US after its latest funding round. The company’s rapid ascent earlier in 2026 triggered market fluctuations, particularly in software and IT sectors, as investors speculated on the impact of its advanced AI tools on traditional business models.
As the IPO market gains momentum, with companies raising a total of $87.5 billion US by May 26, the competition for investor capital intensifies. Analysts predict that the combined demand from SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic could disrupt capital markets, making an early IPO advantageous.
With a valuation close to $1 trillion US, Anthropic is poised to join the elite companies in the S&P 500, solidifying its position as a dominant force in global equity markets.