Anthropic not conducting negotiations on stake transfer to US government — Reuters

American authorities have not discussed with Anthropic the possible transfer of a stake in the company to the government — this was reported on July 6, 2026 by the Reuters news agency citing informed sources. The publication appeared against the backdrop of a growing discussion about state participation in the capital of leading US AI laboratories.

Where the stake transfer topic came from

The starting point is the Intel story. About a year ago, the largest American chip manufacturer transferred approximately 10% of its shares to the US government as part of agreements on state support for semiconductor production. The deal fit the logic of the CHIPS Act: subsidies in exchange for a stake, allowing the state to share in the company's future profits.

According to Financial Times information, this very precedent inspired the Trump administration to consider similar agreements with leading AI companies. According to FT, OpenAI is discussing the transfer of a package of about 5% of its shares to the administration — twice more modest than in the case of Intel. In the same publication, it was mentioned that similar negotiations could be underway with other AI market participants, which immediately raised questions about Anthropic.

• Intel transferred approximately 10% of shares to the US government about a year ago
• OpenAI is discussing the transfer of approximately 5% of shares to the Trump administration (FT data)
• Reuters sources do not report on similar negotiations with Anthropic
• Neither American officials nor Anthropic provided official comments

Why silence from both sides is not an answer

Reuters sought comments from American officials and Anthropic representatives — and received no response from either side. Technically, this means the agency did not receive official confirmation of the absence of negotiations: informed sources do not mention contact with Anthropic, but the final word remains with official representatives.

Anthropic was founded in 2021 by Dario Amodei and his colleagues who left OpenAI. The company has attracted several billion dollars in investments — the largest packages belong to Amazon and Google. Historically, Anthropic has positioned itself as an independent laboratory focused on AI safety and has avoided close alliances with the state. Direct government participation in capital would fundamentally change this positioning — both within the company and in the eyes of the research community.

A government stake in shares is typically accompanied by rights to information about the company's activities and potential restrictions on partnerships with foreign players. For Anthropic, which is actively developing its international business, this would become a tangible limitation.

Why Washington wants stakes in AI companies

The logic of such a policy differs from classical industry. It is not about nationalization — rather about a mechanism of strategic influence: the state gains formal status as an interested party and access to technologies without complex regulatory procedures. Against the backdrop of competition with China, Washington views leading AI laboratories — OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind — as strategic national security assets.

What this means

The question of government participation in the capital of AI companies ceases to be theoretical. The Intel precedent and negotiations around OpenAI show that Washington is seriously considering shareholder agreements as an instrument of AI policy. Anthropic remains outside these agreements for now — but the silence from both sides in response to Reuters' inquiry leaves the question open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did negotiations take place between

Anthropic and the US government about transferring shares?

According to Reuters sources, no such negotiations took place. Neither American officials nor Anthropic officially confirmed this: both sides did not respond to the agency's inquiry.

How many shares did Intel transfer to the US government?

Intel transferred approximately 10% of shares about a year ago — as part of agreements on state funding for semiconductor production under the CHIPS Act.