The BIGGEST start-up in A.I. who you never heard of has received $14 Billion
THE DETAILS …
Anthropic is an artificial intelligence startup focused on developing and deploying advanced AI systems, with a strong emphasis on safety, alignment, and responsible innovation. Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives, the company is best known for creating Claude, a generative AI chatbot designed to provide helpful and truthful answers, often competing with models like ChatGPT. Anthropic's mission centers on ensuring AI benefits humanity, which it pursues by integrating robust safety guardrails into its systems to mitigate risks such as misinformation, bias, or harmful outputs. Beyond chatbot development, Anthropic conducts research into AI alignment—ensuring AI systems act in accordance with human values—and leverages partnerships, such as its use of Google’s cloud infrastructure, to scale its operations, positioning itself as a leader in the responsible AI movement amidst a highly competitive tech landscape.
Google has emerged as a significant stakeholder in Anthropic, owning 14 percent of the company, as revealed by court documents recently obtained by The New York Times. This investment, part of a broader strategy to maintain a competitive edge in the AI race, has seen Google inject over $3 billion into Anthropic, with plans for an additional $750 million through convertible debt in September 2025. Despite this substantial financial involvement, Google holds no voting rights, board seats, or observer rights, a structure designed to navigate potential regulatory scrutiny while still securing influence in the rapidly evolving AI sector.
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The relationship between Google and Anthropic extends beyond mere investment, encompassing a strategic partnership where Anthropic leverages Google’s cloud computing services and chips to develop and operate its AI systems, notably its chatbot, Claude. This arrangement mirrors similar deals by other tech giants, such as Amazon and Microsoft, who have also invested heavily in AI startups like Anthropic and OpenAI, respectively, often integrating their technological infrastructure. Such partnerships have raised concerns among regulators about the potential for these tech giants to gain unfair advantages in the AI market, though the U.S. Department of Justice recently dropped a proposal to force Google to divest its AI investments, citing risks of unintended consequences in the evolving AI landscape.
Anthropic’s funding frenzy, totaling over $14.8 billion since its founding in 2021, underscores the intense competition and investor enthusiasm in the AI sector, with its valuation reaching $61.5 billion following a recent $3.5 billion round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. The company, founded by former OpenAI executives, positions itself as a responsible AI developer, emphasizing safety guardrails, which contrasts with the broader industry’s rush to innovate. However, the significant backing from Google and Amazon, who together have invested over $11 billion, raises questions about Anthropic’s independence, particularly as regulatory bodies globally, including the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, scrutinize such deals for their impact on competition and innovation in the AI ecosystem.
MY TAKE: This A.I. stuff is no joke, and it will change the world very soon.