On Sunday, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) CEO Elon Musk challenged Anthropic’s plan to dedicate a portion of its ownership to public-benefit initiatives.
Elon Musk Pushes for Direct Share Distribution
Anthropic, the developer of Claude AI, announced that it would allocate 5% of its shares to a new Anthropic Public Benefit Fund designed to support initiatives serving the public interest.
On X, Musk, who leads rival AI company xAI, responded, "I recommend giving the shares directly to the public."
In a follow-up post, Musk added, "This is what I will be doing," without providing further details about how or when he plans to distribute shares.
Anthropic said it would establish the fund as a wholly owned limited liability company.
Its board could also award it an additional 2% of the company’s shares for every 50% increase in Anthropic’s valuation above a baseline that has yet to be disclosed.
Anthropic Fund to Address AI’s Impact on Workers
The proposed fund could finance nonprofit organizations, provide direct payments to specific populations and support efforts to address AI’s effects on the labor market.
The company has previously committed $200 million to studying and responding to potential labor-market disruption caused by AI adoption.
The announcement comes as companies across industries increasingly deploy AI to improve efficiency, with some citing the technology when announcing job cuts.
International Monetary Fund research indicates that AI could affect around 40% of jobs globally, rising to 60% in advanced economies.
Anthropic also said it would not use the fund’s shares for lobbying or political contributions in the U.S. or abroad.
Anthropic Prepares for Potential Mega IPO
The initiative comes as Anthropic prepares for a potential initial public offering. The company operates as a public benefit corporation, a structure requiring management to consider broader public interests alongside shareholder returns.
Anthropic said its co-founders have pledged to donate 80% of their equity and an employee donation-matching program will support its broader public-benefit commitments.
Combined, roughly 20% of Anthropic’s shares are expected to be dedicated to public purposes, excluding future additions.
Anthropic Flags Trump Policy Risks Ahead of IPO
Earlier this month, Anthropic warned in its IPO prospectus that shifting U.S. AI policies, federal restrictions and export controls could hurt its reputation and revenue.
The company also flagged potential "catastrophic or existential risks" from advanced AI. Government contracts account for less than 1% of its annual revenue.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump struck a warmer tone toward CEO Dario Amodei after a recent meeting, telling Time that Amodei made a better impression on him than before.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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