Investors shove another $30B into the Anthropic money furnace
The Register
February 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Investors have poured another $30 billion into Anthropic, pushing its valuation to an astronomical $380 billion despite the company yet to turn a profit. This funding round underscores the speculative fervor surrounding AI startups, with Anthropic burning significant cash to develop advanced models. While it generates $14 billion annually, much of this comes from enterprise sales of Claude Code, a coding assistant that now accounts for over half its revenue and handles 4% of GitHub's public commits. However, concerns loom about the practicality of relying on AI-generated code, as highlighted by an incident where Anthropic spent $20,000 to create a partially functional C compiler.
The stakes are high for Anthropic as it aims to deliver returns for its investors. Its reliance on enterprise sales and the lack of advertising in its models set it apart from competitors like OpenAI, which has attracted significant investment and achieved a $500 billion valuation. While Anthropic's decision to avoid ads might seem prudent, it limits its revenue streams compared to peers. Additionally, questions about code quality persist, with recent examples showing AI-generated code is far from perfect, potentially hindering widespread adoption.
This funding frenzy reflects the broader tech industry's bet on AI's future, but it also raises caution flags. Investors are banking on Anthropic's rapid growth and its ability to eventually generate profits at scale. While the company has shown impressive revenue growth, the long-term viability of its model remains uncertain. The race between Anthropic and OpenAI continues, with both companies vying for dominance in AI development and enterprise adoption. As the market evolves, the true test will be whether these investments yield sustainable returns or result in a speculative bust.
For tech enthusiasts and investors, this highlights the high-stakes nature of AI innovation. While opportunities abound, so do risks, particularly as companies like Anthropic navigate the challenges of scaling their technology and delivering on sky-high valuations. The ongoing developments in AI will likely shape the future of software development and enterprise operations, making this sector a critical area to watch for anyone interested in tech trends and market dynamics.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/13/2026