Anthropic pledges 5% of its shares to a new 'public benefit' fund
The Claude maker says the fund could grow as the company's value rises and could be used to help people whose jobs are disrupted by AI. It cannot fund lobbying.
At a glance
- Anthropic is committing 5% of its company shares to a new Public Benefit Fund, subject to stockholder approval.
- The board can add a further 2% for each 50% increase in the company's value.
- Possible uses include donations to non-profits and direct support for people affected by AI-driven job disruption.
- The fund cannot be used for lobbying or political donations.
Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the Claude models, has announced it will commit 5% of its shares to a new fund dedicated to the public good.
How the fund works
The commitment, announced on Sunday, October 18, takes effect immediately but still needs approval from the company's stockholders. On top of the initial 5%, the board can add a further 2% for every 50% increase in Anthropic's value. The company said this means "the more Anthropic grows, the larger the share of the company that can be dedicated expressly to the public good."
Anthropic said it is directing equity that might otherwise have gone to executive pay towards the fund instead.
What it could pay for
Possible uses include donations to traditional non-profits and direct distributions to specific groups of people. The company named AI-driven disruption to jobs as one area the fund might address. Anthropic has already committed $200 million to studying and responding to that issue and said bolder approaches may be needed.
The fund cannot be used for lobbying or political donations, in the United States or abroad.
Context
Anthropic is registered in Delaware as a public benefit corporation, which requires its leaders to balance returns to shareholders with its stated mission of responsible AI development. It was founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees.
The announcement comes amid widespread anxiety about AI's effect on work — McKinsey has estimated that up to 11 million American workers may need to change careers over the next decade because of automation — and as reports suggest Anthropic is preparing for a possible stock market listing.
Questions people are asking
What is the Anthropic Public Benefit Fund?
A fund holding 5% of Anthropic's shares, intended for the public good — for example donations to non-profits or support for workers affected by AI. It needs stockholder approval.
Is Anthropic going public?
Reports say Anthropic is preparing for a US stock market listing, possibly before the end of 2026, but the company has not announced a date.
How we verified this story
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