Anthropic, the AI company behind the popular Claude chatbot, is reportedly in early stages of preparing for one of the largest initial public offerings in tech history, with plans potentially as early as next year, according to a report by the Financial Times. The company, led by CEO Dario Amodei, has engaged Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a law firm with a track record in major tech IPOs including Google, LinkedIn, and Lyft, to help guide the process, the report said, citing two sources familiar with the matter. In addition to exploring a public listing, Anthropic is also pursuing a private funding round that could value the company at over $300 billion. The report noted a combined $15 billion commitment from Microsoft and Nvidia, underscoring strong backing from key industry players. While Anthropic has held preliminary and informal discussions with major investment banks about a potential IPO, sources indicated these talks are not yet formalized. If realized, the IPO would place Anthropic in direct competition with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which is also reportedly laying the groundwork for a public offering. The move would test investor appetite for high-growth, loss-making AI startups amid growing concerns about a potential AI bubble. An Anthropic spokesperson stated that it is “fairly standard practice for companies operating at our scale and revenue level to effectively operate as if they are publicly traded companies,” adding that no final decisions have been made regarding timing or the possibility of going public. CNBC was unable to reach Anthropic or Wilson Sonsini for comment. However, the FT report noted that Anthropic has been conducting internal preparations for a possible listing, though specific details were not disclosed. The company has undergone several strategic shifts recently, including the hiring of Krishna Rao, a former executive at Airbnb who played a key role in the company’s 2020 IPO. This move signals a growing focus on public market readiness. Earlier this month, CNBC reported that Anthropic’s valuation had reached as high as $350 billion following investments of up to $5 billion from Microsoft and $10 billion from Nvidia. To support its rapid expansion, the company recently announced a $50 billion investment in AI infrastructure, including new data centers in Texas and New York, and has tripled its international workforce. According to the FT, investors are optimistic about Anthropic’s potential IPO, with some viewing it as a chance to “seize the initiative” from OpenAI. While OpenAI has been linked to IPO speculation, its CFO recently confirmed the company is not pursuing a near-term listing, despite closing a $6.6 billion share sale in October at a $500 billion valuation.