Anthropic secures major funding from Google and Amazon

US technology company Google is investing $10 billion in artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, an OpenAI competitor, according to foreign media reports.

Anthropic said that a further $30 billion investment could follow if the developer behind the chatbot Claude meets agreed performance targets.

Google has been an investor in Anthropic for years and also provides the company with specialised chips used for artificial intelligence systems.

The move comes shortly after Amazon invested $5 billion in Anthropic, with the possibility of an additional $20 billion in later stages.

The series of investments reflects a broader trend in the AI sector involving so-called circular deals, where funding is partially recycled back to investors through commitments for computing power, infrastructure, or chips.

Anthropic, along with OpenAI, is seeking significant increases in computing capacity to support the development and scaling of its AI systems. Both companies are also preparing for potential initial public offerings.

In recent months, Anthropic has faced increased scrutiny due to its policies restricting the use of its AI systems in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance applications in the United States. The company has maintained that its models must not be deployed in such contexts, despite external pressure.

The US Department of Defence subsequently classified Anthropic as a supply chain risk, a designation that could limit the use of its technology by government agencies. The company has initiated legal action in response.

At the same time, Anthropic has highlighted the strategic importance of its technology to US national security interests. It recently demonstrated a new model, Claude Mythos Preview, which is capable of identifying vulnerabilities in software systems, including flaws that had remained undetected for decades.

Security experts note that, if misused, such capabilities could function as a powerful cyber tool, potentially enabling both defensive protection of US systems and offensive exploitation of foreign vulnerabilities.

Anthropic has confirmed that Claude Mythos Preview will not be released publicly.

By Tamilla Hasanova