Artificial intelligence company Anthropic, the developer of Claude, has announced plans to commit 5 per cent of its shares to a new public benefit fund designed to support initiatives that serve the public interest.
The company said on Sunday that the proposed fund would give it greater flexibility and resources to finance public-benefit projects, including donations to non-profit organisations, direct financial support for specific groups and programmes addressing artificial intelligence’s impact on jobs.
The fund would be established as a wholly owned limited liability company. Anthropic said its board could allocate an additional two per cent of the company’s shares to the fund for every 50 per cent increase in its valuation above a baseline that has yet to be disclosed.
The announcement comes as Anthropic prepares for a potential initial public offering that could rank among the largest in history. The company operates as a public benefit corporation, a legal structure that requires its management to consider broader societal interests alongside investors’ financial returns.
Anthropic has positioned itself as a safety-focused artificial intelligence developer, warning that advanced AI systems could pose catastrophic or existential risks to humanity. Its prospectus has devoted substantial attention to potential risks associated with the technology.
The new fund is also expected to address the economic consequences of AI adoption, particularly its impact on employment. Anthropic has previously committed $200m to studying and responding to disruptions in the labour market caused by the technology.
Businesses worldwide, particularly in the technology sector, have cut thousands of jobs while investing heavily in AI, with some attributing the reductions to efficiency gains from automation.
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International Monetary Fund research cited by Reuters indicates that about 40 per cent of jobs globally could be affected by AI through changes to tasks, job quality or outright displacement. The proportion could rise to 60 per cent in advanced economies, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said last week.
Anthropic said the fund’s shares would not be used for lobbying or political donations in the United States or other countries.
The initiative would complement commitments by the company’s co-founders to donate 80 per cent of their equity, as well as an employee donation-matching programme. Together, these arrangements would dedicate roughly 20 per cent of Anthropic’s shares to public purposes, excluding any additional shares allocated in the future.
However, the company has yet to disclose the fund’s full governance arrangements, organisational structure or the valuation thresholds that could trigger further share allocations. It said more details would be released in the coming months, alongside a public-benefit report outlining progress towards its stated mission.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, head of rival AI company xAI, responded to the announcement on X by recommending that Anthropic distribute the shares directly to the public.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
