Anthropic said it is creating a "public benefit fund" and committing 5% of its shares to it, according to TechCrunch. The fund, structured as a wholly-owned entity within the company, is meant to give Anthropic "increased flexibility and scale" to support projects for societal good.
The move comes as the AI industry faces increasingly negative public sentiment, which CEO Dario Amodei has called "fundamentally a crisis of trust." Anthropic said it will share more details on the fund's structure and governance in the coming months.
Anthropic fund structure and growth clause
Beyond the initial 5% commitment, Anthropic has the option to contribute an additional 2% of its shares for every 50% increase in the company's value, TechCrunch reported. This escalator clause suggests the fund could grow alongside Anthropic's valuation.
The company offered broad ideas for how the money might be used, including "large donations to traditional nonprofits or direct distributions to specific populations." It also pointed to the potential impact of AI on the job market, an area Anthropic has already committed $200 million to study.
Anthropic acknowledged that given the pace of AI progress, "bolder approaches may be needed," and said the fund will have the versatility to pursue them.
- Initial commitment: 5% of shares to a public benefit fund.
- Growth option: additional 2% for every 50% increase in company value.
- Potential uses: large donations to nonprofits or direct distributions to specific populations.
