Anthropic is in talks with investors to raise funds at a $900 billion valuation, surpassing OpenAI’s $850 billion mark, while OpenAI simultaneously ended its exclusive partnership with Microsoft after seven years. CNBC reported the Anthropic funding discussions on Wednesday, just two days after OpenAI and Microsoft announced major changes to their working relationship.
The developments mark a significant shift in AI company dynamics, with Anthropic positioning itself as the highest-valued AI startup while OpenAI gains freedom to partner with Microsoft’s cloud competitors including Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.
OpenAI Breaks Microsoft Exclusivity
OpenAI and Microsoft ended their exclusive partnership arrangement on Monday, allowing OpenAI to license its models to any third party and run on competing cloud platforms. Under the previous deal dating to 2019, Microsoft held exclusive rights to sell OpenAI’s technology to businesses and Azure was OpenAI’s only permitted cloud provider.
The new agreement caps OpenAI’s revenue share payments to Microsoft at a fixed ceiling rather than continuing indefinitely. In exchange, Microsoft will no longer pay a revenue share to OpenAI from its AI products. Microsoft retains its 27% stake in OpenAI, worth approximately $225 billion following OpenAI’s restructuring last October.
Forbes reported the partnership became strained as OpenAI’s computing demands outgrew Microsoft’s capacity, leading OpenAI to seek partnerships with rivals including the $500 billion Stargate data center project with Oracle and SoftBank.
Anthropic Targets Record Valuation
Anthropic’s potential $900 billion valuation would establish it as the world’s most valuable AI startup, exceeding OpenAI’s current $850 billion mark. The Claude maker announced earlier in April that its business reached $30 billion in annualized revenue, providing justification for the premium valuation.
The funding talks come as Anthropic has emerged as OpenAI’s primary competitor in large language models, with its Claude family competing directly against ChatGPT in both consumer and enterprise markets. The company has raised significant capital from Amazon, Google, and other major investors over the past two years.
SoftBank Plans $100B AI Spinout
SoftBank is reportedly considering a $100 billion valuation for a new AI and robotics spinout focused on data center construction and AI infrastructure efficiency. The Financial Times reported the potential U.S. IPO would represent founder Masayoshi Son’s latest major bet on artificial intelligence.
The new entity would concentrate on building data centers and deploying robotics to improve AI infrastructure construction efficiency. SoftBank has committed tens of billions to AI investments in recent years, including stakes in multiple AI startups and infrastructure projects.
Indian Startup Funding Activity
Snabbit, an Indian instant house-help startup, is close to raising $50-55 million at a $400 million valuation led by Susquehanna Venture Capital. TechCrunch learned the round represents a significant jump from Snabbit’s $180 million valuation in October 2025.
The Bengaluru-based company connects households with on-demand domestic help for cleaning, dishwashing, and laundry services. Founder Aayush Agarwal said Snabbit completed over one million jobs in March alone, demonstrating strong growth in India’s instant services market.
Participants in the round include Mirae Asset, FJ Labs, and existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners and Bertelsmann India Investments. The funding reflects growing investor interest in India’s instant house-help sector, with rival Pronto also finalizing a $200 million valuation round.
What This Means
The simultaneous developments signal a maturing AI market where exclusive partnerships are giving way to multi-cloud strategies and competition intensifies at the highest valuations. OpenAI’s decision to end Microsoft exclusivity reflects confidence in its market position and desire for operational flexibility as it scales globally.
Anthropic’s pursuit of a $900 billion valuation, if successful, would establish new benchmarks for AI company valuations and demonstrate investor appetite for OpenAI alternatives. The premium reflects Anthropic’s revenue growth and competitive positioning against established players.
SoftBank’s planned AI spinout indicates continued institutional confidence in AI infrastructure investments, while regional players like Snabbit show AI-adjacent services attracting significant funding across global markets.
FAQ
Why did OpenAI end its exclusive Microsoft partnership?
OpenAI’s computing demands outgrew Microsoft’s capacity, and the company sought flexibility to partner with other cloud providers like Amazon and Google for its expanding global operations.
How does Anthropic’s $900 billion valuation compare to other AI companies?
If completed, it would surpass OpenAI’s current $850 billion valuation, making Anthropic the world’s most valuable AI startup by a significant margin.
What does SoftBank’s AI spinout focus on?
The new entity will concentrate on building data centers and using robotics to improve AI infrastructure construction efficiency, targeting a $100 billion valuation in a potential U.S. IPO.
Related news
- Sources: Anthropic could raise a new $50B round at a valuation of $900B – TechCrunch
- Anthropic Weighs Funding Offers at Over $900 Billion Valuation – Bloomberg.com – Google News – AI
- CodePath and Anthropic team up to open source what they are learning about AI’s real impact on students – EdTech Innovation Hub – Google News – Tech Innovation
Sources
- OpenAI shakes up partnership with Microsoft, capping revenue share payments – CNBC Tech
- OpenAI And Microsoft End Exclusive Partnership And Revenue Sharing – Forbes Tech
- India’s Snabbit seeks fresh funding at a $400M valuation, sources say – TechCrunch
- SoftBank reportedly weighs $100 billion valuation for new AI and robotics spinout in potential U.S. IPO – CNBC Tech
- Anthropic in talks with investors to raise funds at $900 billion valuation, higher than OpenAI – CNBC Tech
