Blackstone to Boost $1 Bn Stake in Anthropic, Say Reports

Blackstone, an investment management company, is boosting its investment in US-based startup Anthropic, increasing its stake to around $1 billion and valuing the startup at approximately $350 billion, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The world’s largest alternative asset manager is putting an additional $200 million into Anthropic’s current funding round, the insider noted, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 

This latest investment values the startup, backed by Amazon and Alphabet, at $350 billion, underscoring strong investor demand for top generative AI companies.

Anthropic, known for developing the Claude AI models, recently introduced a new flagship system, Opus 4.6, as it ramps up efforts to provide more sophisticated tools for both enterprise and consumer applications.

The company stated that the new model boasts enhanced reasoning, coding, and complex text-generation abilities compared to previous iterations.

Opus 4.6 is also designed to perform tasks for extended periods with improved reliability, while delivering significant performance gains in areas such as software development and financial analysis, the firm claimed.

The launch of the new model came just days before a downturn in traditional software stocks, as recent advances in artificial intelligence reignited fears that AI could disrupt established business models across the industry.

On a separate note, Anthropic is now facing legal challenges in India after a local software firm alleged that the company had previously used the name ‘Anthropic’. 

Anthropic Software, an Indian software company established in 2017, filed a complaint in a Karnataka commercial court in January this year, alleging that the US-based AI company's expansion into India has caused customer confusion. The firm is also seeking acknowledgement of its prior usage, relief to avert further confusion, and ₹10 million in damages.