Anthropic Prepares for Potential 2026 IPO

Anthropic, the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup known for its Claude chatbot, has engaged the law firm Wilson Sonsini to prepare for a potential initial public offering as early as 2026. The move, reported by sources familiar with the matter, comes amid the company's rapid expansion in the competitive AI sector and signals preparations for accessing public markets to fuel further growth.

Wilson Sonsini, which has advised Anthropic since 2022 and handled high-profile tech listings such as those of Google and LinkedIn, will manage the legal aspects of the process. The firm joins an internal effort that includes an operational checklist to ready the company for public scrutiny. Anthropic has held preliminary discussions with major investment banks, though no underwriters have been selected, and the talks remain informal and in early stages.

The company's growth has accelerated dramatically, providing a foundation for these plans. As of September, Anthropic reported more than 300,000 business customers, a stark rise from fewer than 1,000 two years earlier. Large accounts generating at least $100,000 annually have grown more than sevenfold over the past year,...