Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude assistant, has announced that it will dedicate five percent of its shares to a newly created public benefit fund, effective immediately. The move, disclosed in a blog post on Sunday, is subject to shareholder approval and will see an additional two percent added at the board’s discretion for every fifty‑percent increase in the company’s valuation.
Founder and chief executive engineer, the firm explained that the fund’s structure allows the share allocation to grow alongside Anthropic’s market value, ensuring that more equity can be directed toward public good initiatives as the company expands. The company has said the fund can support traditional non‑profits and direct distributions to specific populations, with a focus on mitigating labour market disruption caused by AI.
Anthropic has already committed $200 million to research on AI‑driven workforce shifts and plans to use the fund for “bolder approaches” as AI progresses. The public benefit corporation, registered in Delaware, has clarified that the fund will not be used for lobbying or political donations in the United States or abroad.
With a potential initial public offering slated for the end of 2026 and analysts forecasting a valuation above $2 trillion, the company’s charter mandates balancing shareholder returns with responsible AI development. The fund’s launch comes amid growing scrutiny of AI firms over potential societal risks, including job displacement.
As Anthropic prepares for what could be the largest public IPO in history, the public benefit fund represents a strategic effort to align its rapid growth with broader societal impact.
