CNBC_ Anthropic Anthropic announced today, Sunday, its intention to allocate 5% of its equity to a new fund aiming to make grants that serve the "public interest," including mitigating the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market.
The proposed fund will be established as a wholly-owned limited liability company (LLC) and, at the board's discretion, will receive an additional 2% stake of Anthropic's equity for every 50% increase in the company's value, relative to an undisclosed baseline.
The Anthropic Public Benefit Fund may support initiatives including grants to non-profit organizations, direct distributions to specific demographics, and efforts aimed at addressing the impact of AI on workers.
The company emphasized that the fund's shares will not be used for political lobbying activities or to make political contributions inside or outside the United States.
The developer of the Claude AI assistant plans an initial public offering (IPO) expected to be among the largest in history as a public benefit corporation—a legal structure that obligates management to consider broader interests alongside generating profits for investors.
The company, known for prioritizing safety, has repeatedly highlighted the risks associated with the AI models it develops. Most recently, in its public offering prospectus, it noted that such models might exhibit "self-preservation behaviors," according to an exclusive report published by Reuters in September.
With the addition of the new fund, nearly 20% of Anthropic's equity will be dedicated to public benefit purposes, excluding any additional shares that may be allocated if the company achieves future valuation milestones.
Anthropic stated that in the coming months it will disclose further details regarding the fund's governance, structure, and the valuation thresholds that could trigger an increase in its ownership stake in the company. It also intends to publish a public benefit report outlining the progress made toward achieving its mission.
Editorial Note: Figures and details have been maintained as provided in the original text. It is recommended to verify the phrase "nearly 20% of equity" with the original source to confirm the calculation methodology, particularly given that the additional fund stake is contingent upon the company's valuation increase.
