Anthropic secures $65bn funding, overtaking OpenAI in valuation

Anthropic has finalised a $65 billion funding round, bringing the valuation of the company behind the Claude AI model to $965 billion. The deal, reported by the Financial Times, represents one of the largest capital injections in the technology sector and establishes the firm as the most valuable private entity in the artificial intelligence space.

This new valuation surpasses that of its primary rival, OpenAI. The move signals a intensifying competition between the two firms as they vie for dominance in the generative AI market. While specific terms of the investment were not detailed, the finalisation of the round confirms the substantial confidence investors have placed in Anthropic’s trajectory.

The announcement comes amidst a broader period of volatility and growth in global markets. Recent trading sessions have seen US indices rise, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.8 per cent, the S&P 500 up 0.3 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite climbing 0.2 per cent. These gains were partly driven by a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, which addressed issues including trade and artificial intelligence.

Separately, the technology sector saw positive momentum following US approval for the sale of H200 chips to Chinese firms, which propelled Nvidia shares up more than 2 per cent. However, the Anthropic funding deal remains a distinct corporate event, separate from the geopolitical developments influencing broader market sentiment.

The finalised valuation of $965 billion includes the new capital from the funding round. This milestone underscores the rapid capital accumulation in the AI industry, where valuations can fluctuate significantly based on technological breakthroughs and investor sentiment. As the sector continues to evolve, the rivalry between Anthropic and OpenAI is expected to remain a focal point for market observers and institutional investors alike.