Title: Anthropic Startup Rules Out Saudi Investment Due to National Security Concerns
Deep-pocketed investors have been vying for a stake in Anthropic, a prominent artificial intelligence startup challenging OpenAI. However, one notable investor has been left out of the picture: Saudi Arabia.
According to sources, Anthropic has decided against taking money from Saudi Arabian investors, citing national security concerns as the primary reason. The company’s stake is currently up for sale as part of FTX’s bankruptcy proceedings. FTX acquired the shares three years ago for $500 million, and the 8% stake is now valued at over $1 billion.
The proceeds from the sale will be used to repay FTX customers, with the transaction expected to conclude in the coming weeks. Anthropic has garnered substantial funding from tech giants like Amazon, Alphabet, and Salesforce, with its large language model competing against OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
While Anthropic’s founders have the right to approve potential investors, they are not directly involved in the fundraising process. Notably, Anthropic has rejected Saudi investment but is open to funding from other sovereign wealth funds like the United Arab Emirates’ Mubadala.
The sale of FTX’s shares is being managed by investment bank Perella Weinberg, and discussions with potential investors are ongoing. Representatives from Anthropic, Perella Weinberg, Mubadala, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund declined to comment on the sale.
Saudi Arabia’s interest in investing in AI aligns with the kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy away from oil. However, national security concerns surrounding dual-use technology and the kingdom’s human rights record pose potential hurdles to foreign investments.
In conclusion, Anthropic’s decision to exclude Saudi investment underscores the importance of considering national security implications in strategic investment decisions. The evolving landscape of AI technology and global investment trends will continue to shape the future of startups like Anthropic.
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