Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI chatbot, is preparing for a massive stock market debut that could value it at between $1.1 trillion and $1.3 trillion. The artificial intelligence company plans to offer shares at $70 to $78 each and aims to raise as much as $64 billion through its initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
The listing, scheduled for November 19 under the stock ticker symbol ANT, could make Anthropic the first fully AI-focused company to go public. The proposed valuation comes despite the company’s substantial financial losses and its own warnings about the potential dangers of advanced artificial intelligence.
Anthropic Revenue Jumps, But Losses Also Increase
Anthropic’s financial performance highlights the rapid growth of demand for AI services, alongside the enormous costs involved in developing advanced models.
For the six months ending June 2026, the company’s revenue increased to $16.2 billion, compared with $1.1 billion during the corresponding period last year.
However, its pre-tax losses also widened considerably, reaching $80.7 billion compared with $12.9 billion in the same period a year earlier.
Despite these losses, Anthropic is seeking to raise up to $64 billion from public market investors. Its proposed valuation is lower than the $2 trillion figure some of its backers reportedly anticipated during the summer.
IPO Comes Amid Growing Concerns Over AI Investments
Anthropic’s planned listing comes at a volatile time for technology companies. The Nasdaq experienced a sharp decline following concerns that a Democrat-led US Congress could slow AI development and the expansion of data centres.
Investors are also questioning whether the enormous amounts being spent on AI infrastructure and technology will eventually generate sufficient returns.
Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index, described Anthropic’s fundraising target as ambitious given recent market volatility and concerns surrounding AI investments. However, she noted that the proposed IPO indicates the company’s confidence in future AI demand.
At a potential valuation of $1.3 trillion, Anthropic would still be valued below SpaceX, which went public in June and reached a valuation of nearly $1.8 trillion.
Anthropic Warns Of Catastrophic AI Risks
One of the unusual aspects of Anthropic’s IPO is that the company has explicitly warned investors about the potential risks associated with the technology it develops.
Last month, Anthropic acknowledged that advanced AI systems could pose catastrophic or existential risks to humanity if they were developed or deployed without appropriate safeguards, oversight and security measures.
The company highlighted concerns about the potential misuse, replication, weaponisation and autonomous operation of advanced AI systems.
These warnings come amid incidents involving AI agents, which are designed to perform tasks with limited human intervention. Some incidents have raised questions about whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent unintended behaviour.
Anthropic has also warned investors that its future business success depends heavily on its ability to develop the most advanced AI models. Failure to maintain its technological position could negatively affect its business.
Founded By Former OpenAI Employees
Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, along with five other former OpenAI employees. The company has since emerged as a major competitor to OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT.
Anthropic announced its intention to go public in June, followed by a similar announcement from OpenAI. OpenAI’s stock market listing is currently expected early next year.
Summary
Anthropic is targeting a valuation of up to $1.3 trillion through its November 19 Nasdaq IPO, aiming to raise as much as $64 billion. Its revenue has grown sharply, but losses have also increased. The listing will test investor confidence in AI businesses amid market volatility and the company’s warnings about potentially catastrophic risks from advanced AI.
