Anthropic Reportedly Weighs Pre-IPO AI Model Launch to Counter OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra Momentum

Anthropic is reportedly considering launching a new AI model to counter the momentum OpenAI has built since releasing GPT-6 Astra, according to people familiar with the matter.

The potential release comes as Anthropic prepares for an initial public offering and follows CEO Dario Amodei's recent public call for the industry to slow down. In a Sept. 12 essay, Amodei wrote, "We must slow down the rate at which we increase the capabilities of AI models." The company is currently evaluating the safety of its next model and discussing how to strengthen profitability while investing in the new release, the people said.

OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra on Sept. 3, touting improvements in computer use, software engineering and professional work. The model quickly gained traction among enterprises and developers, prompting some prospective Anthropic investors to reassess the company's position as a leading provider of enterprise AI tools. According to expense management platform Ramp, GPT-6 Astra accounts for about 13% of enterprise AI spending tracked on the platform, while Anthropic's Claude Fable accounts for about 8%. Last week, data from routing platform OpenRouter showed user spending on OpenAI models exceeded Anthropic's for the first time in more than two and a half years.

Anthropic still retains an edge in revenue, with an annualized run rate exceeding $65 billion as of the end of July, up from about $9 billion at the end of 2025, compared with OpenAI's run rate of over $40 billion reached in July. Anthropic expects revenue of roughly $190 billion to $200 billion in 2028. Reports also suggest its IPO could be delayed until after the U.S. midterm elections in November, with roadshow plans previously expected to begin as early as mid-October.