Anthropic considers super-voting shares ahead of planned IPO

AI startup Anthropic is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) by the end of the year, following a confidential filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in June. To maintain leadership control after going public, the company is considering issuing super-voting shares to CEO Dario Amodei and other co-founders. This move is intended to allow the leadership team to steer the organization's long-term direction, particularly as Amodei currently holds approximately a 2% equity stake.

Anthropic's valuation has reached $965 billion following a $65 billion financing round in May. The company's move toward an IPO comes amid intense competition in the AI sector, with rival OpenAI also having submitted a confidential filing.

Separately, CEO Dario Amodei has sparked debate regarding the centralization of power in the AI industry. Amodei argues that the development of AI models naturally leads to centralization, as power shifts to those controlling essential hardware and chips. This stance has faced criticism from industry figures such as Yann LeCun and David Sacks, who suggest that such regulatory concerns may be driven by self-interest or could impact technological competitiveness.