Amazon is reportedly considering increasing its multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup known for developing ChatGPT rival Claude, according to a report from the Financial Times. Citing individuals familiar with the matter, the report suggests Amazon is looking to strengthen its strategic ties with the AI firm, potentially exceeding the $8 billion it had already committed as of November 2023.
While Anthropic declined to comment and Amazon did not respond to a request from Reuters, the Financial Times notes that the new investment would help Amazon maintain its position as one of Anthropic’s largest stakeholders, edging ahead of Google, which has invested more than $3 billion in the company.
Amazon initially invested $4 billion in Anthropic last year, a move aimed at accelerating its presence in the generative AI space, where rivals like OpenAI and Google have taken an early lead. That investment was later doubled, signaling Amazon’s growing ambitions in the AI field. “We quickly realised that we had many shared goals that were fundamentally critical. The size of the (existing investment) represents our ambition,” said Dan Grossman, Amazon’s vice-president of worldwide corporate development, in comments to the Financial Times.
The move is part of Amazon’s broader push to solidify its position in AI development, especially as the market becomes increasingly competitive and talent-intensive. The company is racing to catch up with leading players by enhancing its AI capabilities, integrating more generative AI into its cloud services, and seeking deeper partnerships with key AI startups.
Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI researchers, has emerged as a major player in the AI ecosystem, attracting significant backing from tech giants and positioning itself as a leading developer of safe and scalable AI models.
As competition for AI leadership and talent intensifies, major companies are doubling down on investments and forming long-term alliances to stay ahead. While details of Amazon’s potential new commitment remain undisclosed, the move would underscore its determination to remain a serious contender in the AI arms race.
