Anthropic considers IPO despite warnings that excess liquidity is blowing a bubble in the markets

Company Overview - Anthropic is considering an IPO, potentially valuing the company at $300 billion, and is in talks for a new round of VC funding [2] - The company has retained the California law firm Wilson Sonsini to advise on IPO issues, with plans to go public in 2026 [2] Market Context - There are warnings from central bank officials about a bubble in AI and excess liquidity in asset markets [1] - National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett is a favored candidate to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, indicating potential interest rate cuts in 2026 [1] Competitive Landscape - Going public would provide Anthropic with significant cash resources to compete against OpenAI [3] - OpenAI is experiencing a slowdown in growth for its consumer subscriptions, with a slight decline in subscription value in major European markets [4] - In contrast, Anthropic and Perplexity have seen substantial growth in subscription value, with Anthropic's Claude experiencing a near sevenfold increase and Perplexity a 46% gain [5] Profitability Outlook - Anthropic is viewed as having an easier pathway to profitability compared to OpenAI, according to Deutsche Bank analysts [6]