Anthropic delays IPO to november amid rising valuation and safety narrative

Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI model, has delayed its initial public offering (IPO) to November, according to a September 19 Wall Street Journal report. The move, one month later than previously expected, is intended to allow the company to present its third-quarter financial data, which insiders believe will strengthen its competitive position. The IPO is expected to value the company at $2 trillion, surpassing the record set by SpaceX in June 2026. Investors anticipate fundraising of up to $10 billion, with annual revenue projected to exceed $110 billion by year-end. The decision to delay the IPO was made before a former researcher raised concerns about AI development speed, indicating the delay was not directly linked to safety issues. However, CEO Dario Amodei’s safety warnings have become a strategic asset, with one investor noting that stating a clear safety stance before the IPO provides a buffer against future scrutiny. Meanwhile, OpenAI, Anthropic’s main competitor, has stated it will not go public before 2027, potentially impacting market demand for Anthropic’s IPO.