The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has proposed that Anthropic expand its London office and pursue a potential dual stock listing, according to a Financial Times report. This effort follows a dispute between the San Francisco-based AI company and the US Department of Defense. Officials aim to attract Anthropic amid ongoing tensions.
Staff at the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have developed proposals for Anthropic to grow its presence in London, including office expansion and a possible dual listing on UK markets. The Financial Times cited sources familiar with the discussions, noting that these initiatives have intensified in recent weeks due to Anthropic's disagreements with the US government. The San Francisco company already maintains an office in the city but faces competition from rivals like OpenAI, which pledged further expansion there in February. Anthropic's conflict with the US Department of Defense erupted earlier this year when the company refused to alter certain AI safety measures, known as guardrails. In response, the DoD terminated a contract and labeled Anthropic a supply chain risk, though a court injunction has paused that designation for now. Sources told the Financial Times that the feud continues without resolution. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei plans a visit to the UK in May, per the report. UK officials see an opportunity to bolster their AI sector by drawing top talent and investment away from US challenges.