Google has announced its agreement to invest up to $2 billion in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence startup founded by former executives of OpenAI. This investment includes an upfront cash infusion of $500 million and an additional $1.5 billion to be invested over time. Anthropic, the developer of Claude 2, a chatbot rivaling OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has gained popularity among companies such as Slack, Notion, and Quora. With funding from major players like Google, Salesforce, and Zoom, Anthropic was valued at $4.1 billion earlier this year.
Anthropic’s Claude 2 sets itself apart from its competitors with the ability to summarize substantial amounts of data, equivalent to a book consisting of 75,000 words. Users can input large datasets and receive summaries in the form of memos, letters, or stories. In comparison, OpenAI’s ChatGPT can only handle approximately 3,000 words. A research conducted by Arthur AI, a machine learning monitoring platform, concluded that Claude 2 was exceptionally reliable in terms of “self-awareness.” It accurately determines its knowledge boundaries, offering answers based solely on training data. The platform compared chatbots from Meta, Cohere, and OpenAI, validating Anthropic’s robust performance.
The latest investment from Google is not the first time the tech giant has shown interest in Anthropic. In April, Google invested $300 million in the company, acquiring a 10% stake. This investment marked a significant step forward for Anthropic, solidifying their position in the AI industry. The prominent backing from Google, alongside previous investments from Salesforce and Zoom, further establishes Anthropic’s credibility.
Anthropic’s potential caught the attention of the White House, leading to an invitation for the company’s representatives to participate in a meeting discussing responsible AI development. The meeting, which took place in April, involved Vice President Kamala Harris and representatives from Google parent company Alphabet, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Anthropic’s inclusion in this meeting demonstrates the recognition and respect the company has garnered in the industry.
Fueling Anthropic’s aspirations for growth, the company raised an impressive $450 million in funding in May. This round marked the largest funding ever secured by an AI company since Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI earlier that year. Anthropic’s founders, Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei, both former executives at OpenAI, are key figures in the company’s success. The founding team also consists of several other alumni from OpenAI, showcasing Anthropic’s commitment to assembling a highly skilled team.
In an interview with CNBC, Dario Amodei shared insights on Anthropic’s tireless efforts in developing their latest chatbot. A dedicated team of 30 to 35 individuals worked directly on the AI model, with a total of 150 people supporting their endeavors. Amodei acknowledged the rapid growth and insatiable demand for large language models, emphasizing the ample opportunities for multiple players to achieve success in the industry.
Google’s significant investment in Anthropic echoes the tremendous potential of AI in today’s digital landscape. With the development of Claude 2 and its remarkable ability to summarize extensive datasets, Anthropic offers businesses and users a powerful tool for efficient data processing. As demand for AI continues to surge, Anthropic is positioned to thrive alongside other industry leaders. With substantial backing from Google and other major investors, the company is poised to drive innovation in artificial intelligence and reshape the way we interact with technology.