Anthropic and OpenAI are currently racing to initiate initial public offerings (IPOs), a move that highlights the intensifying rivalry between the two generative AI leaders. Anthropic filed confidentially with U.S. regulators on June 1, followed by OpenAI one week later. This competition, which began with the rapid development of ChatGPT in 2022, is now influencing how Wall Street assesses AI valuations and how both companies report their financial data to investors, according to reports from people familiar with the matter.
How the rivalry influences AI development
The competition between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has served as a primary driver for the speed of AI innovation. In late 2022, OpenAI fast-tracked the release of ChatGPT after learning Anthropic was developing a competing chatbot, according to four people familiar with the matter. This pressure remains constant; analysts at Arena, a benchmarking firm, describe the relationship as an “all-out war” where every product release from one company is quickly met by a response from the other.
Did You Know? The rivalry between the two firms is deeply personal, as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is a former OpenAI vice president of research who left the company in late 2020 alongside other researchers to prioritize safety-focused AI development.
Why financial reporting is a point of contention
The two companies are currently at odds over how to present their financial health to prospective investors. OpenAI has informed employees and investors that it considers Anthropic’s revenue reporting to be inflated by billions of dollars, according to company memos reviewed by Reuters. The core of the disagreement lies in accounting methods: Anthropic recognizes gross revenue from customers, while OpenAI reports net revenue after paying its partner, Microsoft. Anthropic maintains that its accounting follows established practices for companies acting as the “principal” in a transaction.
What could happen next in the IPO race
The outcome of these IPOs may set the standard for how future frontier AI companies report their financial models. Analysts at D. A. Davidson suggest that whichever company goes public first will likely gain the advantage of setting the agenda for financial disclosure in the industry. As the companies move toward these listings, they are increasingly relying on the same banking institutions for support. This overlap has forced some banks to create internal barriers between deal teams to prevent the leakage of confidential strategic information, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Expert Insight: The public nature of this feud—ranging from refused photo-ops to public accusations of deceptive advertising—signals that the stakes extend far beyond market share. For investors, the primary risk is not just the technical race, but the potential for these companies to prioritize competitive optics over long-term financial transparency during their debut on the public markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is OpenAI challenging Anthropic’s revenue figures?
OpenAI claims Anthropic inflates its revenue by booking the full amount customers pay for services, whereas OpenAI reports only the net revenue after paying its partner, Microsoft.
When did the rivalry between the two companies begin?
The tension dates back to late 2020, when Dario Amodei and other researchers left OpenAI to form Anthropic, a move viewed by many at the time as a rebuke of Sam Altman’s leadership.
Are the two companies using the same financial advisors?
Yes, the companies are turning to some of the same banks for their IPOs, leading those institutions to implement internal barriers to protect information, according to three people familiar with the matter.
How will the public market’s reception of these AI companies change the way developers prioritize safety versus speed in future product releases?
