New York City Comptroller Mark Levine has urged artificial intelligence company Anthropic to postpone its planned US initial public offering (IPO), arguing that the company should address concerns about AI safety, corporate governance and the rapid development of its technology before going public.
Levine made the appeal in a letter to Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei, warning that the rapid advancement of AI systems has outpaced regulation and raised concerns about potential harm, cybersecurity threats and misuse.
“Instead of proceeding headlong with its IPO, the company should focus its energies on addressing these unprecedented risks,” Levine wrote in the letter seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The intervention comes as Anthropic reportedly targets a valuation of $2 trillion for its planned stock market listing, which would rank among the most significant public offerings in the technology sector if achieved.
Anthropic did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Levine’s office told Reuters that New York City’s public pension funds have a combined $7 million exposure to Anthropic through private equity holdings.
As the city’s comptroller, Levine oversees municipal finances, manages its pension funds and monitors public spending and financial practices. New York City’s pension funds have more than $325 billion in assets.
The concerns come amid growing scrutiny of increasingly capable AI systems and the risks they could pose as companies race to develop more advanced models.
Anthropic’s own research has highlighted potential dangers associated with increasingly autonomous AI models.
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In controlled tests, some models have demonstrated capabilities that could be used to sabotage code, facilitate fraud or manipulate information.
The company has also faced scrutiny over the potential consequences of deploying powerful AI systems before adequate safeguards and regulatory frameworks are in place.
Despite the concerns, Anthropic has recorded rapid revenue growth as demand for AI services expands. Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the company’s revenue surged 45 per cent in the third quarter from the previous quarter to nearly $1.7 billion.
Anthropic’s closest rival, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is also expected to pursue a stock market listing in 2027, according to Reuters.
Levine’s appeal adds to the debate over whether AI companies should face stronger safety and governance requirements as they seek public-market investment.
The contents of the letter were first reported by CNBC on Thursday. It remains unclear whether Levine’s intervention will affect Anthropic’s IPO plans.
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.
