Anthropic, a San Francisco startup often cast as an independent player in the AI race, has deeper ties to Google than previously known. Court documents recently obtained by The New York Times reveal that Google owns a 14% stake in the company and is set to pour another $750 million into it this year through a convertible debt deal. In total, Google’s investment in Anthropic now exceeds $3 billion.
Despite having no voting rights, board seats, or direct control over the company, Google’s backing raises questions about how independent Anthropic really is. As AI startups increasingly rely on funding from tech giants, regulators have been scrutinizing whether these deals give incumbents an unfair advantage in the fast-moving industry, though the Justice Department under the Trump administration is softening its stance.
Google, which is developing its own tech while quietly funding competitors, is clearly hedging its bets. Meanwhile, with Amazon also funneling money into Anthropic — it has agreed to invest up to $8 billion so far in the outfit — it’s natural to wonder what such ties mean for Anthropic and other big AI startups. Are they mavericks or extensions of Big Tech?
Above: Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei speaking at Viva Technology in Paris.