Anthropic pledges 5% equity stake to new public benefit fund

Anthropic announced on October 18 that it plans to allocate 5% of its equity to a new public benefit fund. The commitment requires shareholder approval and consists of company shares rather than a fixed cash donation.

The board could authorize another 2% for each 50% increase in Anthropic's valuation above a specified baseline. The fund will operate as an LLC owned entirely by Anthropic, with potential uses including nonprofit grants and payments to selected groups.

Anthropic identified disruption to employment as one potential focus, building on an earlier $200 million commitment to research and address AI's economic effects. It said the fund's equity would not support political donations or lobbying.

Anthropic plans to disclose the fund's governance arrangements and valuation thresholds over the coming months. It also intends to publish an assessment of its progress toward its public benefit mission.