Anthropic has filed for an IPO, revealing $16.3 billion in revenue for the first half of 2026, an operating loss of $693 million, and a net loss of $80.7 billion. The company has over 11,900 enterprise customers spending $100,000 or more annually, and a governance structure that will allow its seven co-founders to maintain control and prioritize its AI safety mission. The filing also notes that the company may not achieve or sustain profitability in the future. The governance structure is controversial due to the disproportionate voting power held by the founders compared to their economic ownership.

The author draws parallels between historical fears of capitalism and current AI panic, suggesting that both involve a shift from a zero-sum worldview to a more complex understanding of wealth creation and human nature. The author references Joyce Appleby's book 'The Relentless Revolution: A History of Capitalism' to describe the historical development of capitalism and the mercantilist worldview that preceded it. Appleby argues that capitalism emerged when people began to see wealth as created rather than captured, and that ordinary people could be sources of demand and initiative. The author suggests that similar assumptions are being challenged by AI, which raises questions about the nature of work, wealth, and human potential.