Anthropic-Physical Intelligence acquisition rumour denied amid AI sector consolidation

Rumours circulated on social media over the weekend that Anthropic was acquiring robotics startup Physical Intelligence, sparking speculation across the artificial intelligence sector. The reports, initially triggered by a post from tech blogger Robert Scoble on X, suggested the AI developer was in advanced talks to purchase the robotics firm. Physical Intelligence chief executive Karol Hausman denied the current reports via a Slack message to employees, while neither company provided further comment to the media.

The speculation appears rooted in earlier developments, with The Information reporting that Anthropic and Physical Intelligence held acquisition talks earlier in the spring. However, the current narrative of an imminent deal has been rejected by the target company. Physical Intelligence, which has raised more than $1 billion and was reportedly in discussions for an additional $1 billion funding round at an $11 billion valuation, remains independent. Its co-founder Lachy Groom did not respond to requests for comment.

The interest in robotics comes as both Anthropic and OpenAI engage in aggressive acquisition activity to convert model capabilities into enterprise revenue. Anthropic has completed four known acquisitions this year, while OpenAI has acquired at least 17 companies since 2023. This consolidation occurs as both firms prepare for initial public offerings, with Anthropic confidentially filing on 1 June and OpenAI following a week later.

Physical Intelligence is considered a significant player in the field, with its π0.5 model reportedly among the more widely used robot brains in robotics research. The company was co-founded by Groom, former Google researchers, and professors from Stanford and Berkeley. The acquisition interest highlights the industry’s belief that physical-world understanding may be a prerequisite for superintelligent systems, a goal both major AI developers are pursuing.

OpenAI’s involvement adds complexity to the potential transaction. The company is an investor in Physical Intelligence, alongside other backers such as Khosla Ventures, Thrive Capital, and Founders Fund. This stake raises potential questions regarding rights of first refusal or information rights that could complicate a sale to its chief rival. OpenAI has also re-established its robotics group in 2024, with CEO Sam Altman announcing "OpenAI Robotics" in late May, focusing on infrastructure work and long-term personal robot development.

Anthropic has pursued a different approach, utilising its internal research groups to test frontier capabilities. Its Project Fetch initiative, which examined Claude’s ability to assist non-experts in programming robots, demonstrated significant efficiency gains in a June phase, where a newer model completed tasks roughly 20 times faster than previous human-plus-model teams. Acquiring an existing robotics team would allow Anthropic to bypass years of internal development.

Despite the denial, the market remains attentive to moves in the robotics sector. OpenAI did not respond to inquiries regarding its potential rights or interests in Physical Intelligence. The situation underscores the intense competition between the two AI giants as they seek to secure strategic advantages ahead of their public market debuts.