Anthropic is poised to launch its initial public offering (IPO) later this year, potentially ahead of rival OpenAI, despite growing concerns over the safety and ethical implications of advanced artificial intelligence. The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny following a recent resignation by Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who warned that the industry is “gambling with our lives.” Coxon, formerly of OpenAI, stepped down last week, sparking debate among industry insiders about the existential risks posed by AI technologies.

Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, has publicly called for a slowdown in AI development, though he has not commented on how these concerns might affect the company’s impending public listing. The IPO filings, expected to be submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) possibly this month, are likely to disclose potential business risks to investors, including theoretical doomsday scenarios raised by some employees and external observers.

Some industry figures remain skeptical about the severity of these warnings. Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya questioned whether the fears articulated by Coxon and supported by colleagues inside Anthropic represent a hidden danger, suggesting that if true, investors would likely demand a significant discount on the company’s valuation. Meanwhile, Brad Gerstner, founder of Altimeter Capital and a shareholder in both Anthropic and OpenAI, emphasized the role of transparency in public markets, arguing that the IPO process itself helps the market assess risks. Gerstner pointed to SpaceX’s $85 billion offering earlier this year as an example of high investor appetite for cutting-edge technology companies, despite fluctuations in stock value.

Anthropic may seek a valuation as high as $2 trillion, with the IPO possibly taking place as soon as October. The outcome of this public offering is expected to influence OpenAI’s future plans. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently stated his company will delay its own IPO until 2027, citing concerns about the timing and safety of releasing advanced AI products to the market. Despite this, OpenAI continues to pursue a new funding round ahead of its eventual public listing, targeting a valuation exceeding $1.2 trillion.

Both companies face growing regulatory and public scrutiny as stakeholders weigh the risks involved in accelerating AI innovation. Proposals have emerged calling for a deceleration of AI development amid incidents of unpredictable system behavior. OpenAI’s chief financial officer, Sarah Friar, dismissed fears that any slowdown would harm the company’s revenue, highlighting the vast amount of existing intelligence accessible for commercial applications. Similarly, Anthropic’s head of policy, Sarah Heck, emphasized that safety concerns have been integral to the company’s mission since its inception and insisted that investors and customers are well aware of this commitment.

The escalating debate around AI safety, business risk, and responsible development coincides with significant investments from major technology firms including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Nvidia, all of which hold substantial stakes in the leading AI laboratories. As these companies prepare to enter public markets, their performance will not only impact the AI sector but also carry broader implications for the U.S. economy’s ongoing integration with artificial intelligence technologies.