Anthropic, an AI safety and research company and a rival to OpenAI, recently announced a major new update for its AI model Claude with which it can take control of a computer to perform actions like moving cursors, typing out text, and browsing the internet. The new feature, called “computer use,” is in public beta. It enables its latest AI model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, to start using a computer in a similar way to humans.
With this tool integrated, Claude can perform calculations and analyse data from spreadsheets and PDFs. In a demonstration, Claude filled out a vendor request form by navigating a customer relationship management page to gather necessary information. The form was then completed and submitted independently.
This development marks a shift from AI completing specific tasks to handling more general activities. It may change how work is done and intensify competition in the AI industry. Companies like Asana, Canva, and DoorDash are exploring how to integrate this computer-use feature into their workflows.
With that being said, here are some interesting facts about Anthropic which might be useful for our readers.
Brainchild of OpenAI alumni
Anthropic was founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers and siblings, including Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei. The team left OpenAI with a strong focus on building AI systems that are aligned with human intentions, prioritising safety and ethical use.
Claude AI model
Anthropic developed Claude, a language model named after Claude Shannon, the “father of information theory.” It is designed to be safer and more controllable than typical language models, with an emphasis on ethical decision-making and mitigating harmful outcomes. Designed for natural language processing tasks, Claude has undergone several iterations, with each version enhancing its capabilities and safety features.
Partnership with Google
Google and Anthropic entered into a partnership aimed at advancing safe and responsible AI development. Google initially invested $500 million in Anthropic in 2023, later increasing its commitment to around $2 billion.
This funding not only supports Anthropic’s focus on building AI models prioritising alignment, ethics, and safety but also provides access to Google’s powerful cloud infrastructure. Anthropic uses Google Cloud for training its advanced AI models, including the Claude series, allowing it to scale its research and development rapidly.
Focus on AI alignment and safety
Unlike many AI companies that focus on performance, Anthropic emphasises AI alignment, ensuring that AI systems understand and adhere to human values. The company believes that developing safe, interpretable AI is essential for long-term, beneficial AI deployment.
Rapid revenue growth
Anthropic’s revenue has been growing quickly due to the demand for AI models that can handle high-stakes tasks in sectors like finance and healthcare. As per a report, Anthropic indicated that it could reach $850 million in annualised revenue by the end of 2024, driven by the competitive features of its Claude models.
Fierce competition in AI development
Several major companies, including OpenAI, Cohere, and Microsoft, are competing to create AI models that can operate with some level of autonomy. As a result, venture capitalists are increasingly investing in this segment, with startups like 11x and PolyAI recently securing significant funding.
While OpenAI offers a desktop app for ChatGPT that allows users to interact with the chatbot in real-time, Claude’s new features enable it to act autonomously, which is a first in this technology space. Microsoft has also announced plans to allow companies to develop their own autonomous AI agents starting next month, following a similar announcement from Salesforce.
Recently, OpenAI hit the headlines as it received $6.6 billion in funding, bringing its total valuation to $157 billion. This made it one of the highest-valued companies in Silicon Valley. One of its competitors, Anthropic is another player valued at about $18.4 billion, according to PitchBook data. Despite lagging behind OpenAI in terms of funding and valuation, Anthropic is still gaining traction.
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