Anthropic's push for a massive public listing collides with its chief executive's public warnings about the pace of AI development.
Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, is moving ahead with plans for one of the largest initial public offerings in tech history even as chief executive Dario Amodei publicly argues for slowing certain advanced AI development, The New York Times reported September 18, 2026. The Times story, corroborated by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, indicates the San Francisco-based company is targeting a late-2026 listing, likely in November.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Urges AI Industry to Slow Model Development
Timeline and Listing Details
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Anthropic confidentially filed for an IPO in June 2026, according to Reuters. The company had initially planned to unveil its prospectus after Labor Day, with a listing expected in late September or early October, Reuters reported August 27, citing The Information. That timeline slipped: Reuters reported September 4 that marketing would shift to mid-October at the earliest, with the listing completing days before the November 3 U.S. midterm elections. Reuters reported September 13, citing Business Insider, that Anthropic had selected Nasdaq for the offering. The Wall Street Journal reported September 18 that the IPO had shifted specifically to November.
The Times reports Anthropic is expected to generate more than $100 billion in annualized revenue in 2026, up from about $65 billion as of July, according to sources cited by the Times. Reuters-linked reporting says underwriters include Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup. Some reports indicate investors are discussing a valuation around $2 trillion, though the Times and other outlets characterize that figure as an expectation rather than a confirmed commitment.
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Safety Debate Surrounds the Offering
The IPO push comes as Amodei has publicly called for caution on AI development. In a September essay, Amodei argued that recursive self-improvement in AI systems "must be pursued very carefully, if at all," according to a Times opinion piece published September 14. Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg criticized Anthropic and Amodei on September 15 over the slowdown debate, the Times reported. The Guardian reported September 12 that OpenAI has ruled out a 2026 listing amid similar safety concerns, a contrast the Times says makes Anthropic's timing notable. Anthropic is expected to release IPO documents in the coming weeks, with further details on pricing and share structure to follow, according to the Times.
