Artificial intelligence (AI) trailblazer Anthropic is currently in talks to secure an impressive $750 million in a funding round spearheaded by Menlo Ventures, according to a reliable source disclosed to Reuters on Wednesday.
The startup, co-founded by sibling powerhouses Dario and Daniela Amodei, former executives at Microsoft-backed rival OpenAI, is strategically positioning itself with a pre-funding valuation of $18.4 billion. Anthropic is determined to gather the resources and high-profile backers necessary to rival OpenAI and emerge as a pioneering force in the ever-evolving technology sector. The Information initially broke the news about the funding round earlier on Wednesday.
Anthropic’s innovative Claude AI models are actively competing for recognition and significance against OpenAI’s renowned GPT series, marking a dynamic showdown in the AI landscape.
Having already secured investments from industry giants Google and Amazon.com, with commitments totaling up to $2 billion and $4 billion, respectively, in recent months, Anthropic is clearly attracting substantial attention and support.
In a noteworthy development, Reuters reported in November that Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei was approached by the board of directors at rival OpenAI. The discussion revolved around the possibility of replacing chief Sam Altman and exploring the potential merger of the two AI startups. This intriguing revelation adds an extra layer of complexity to the competitive dynamics in the AI realm.
Source: Reuters