Anthropic has made a significant stride in its journey toward going public by choosing Nasdaq as the likely venue for its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company is anticipated to commence its IPO marketing campaign as soon as mid-October, aiming to raise a maximum of up to $100 billion and achieve a valuation of around $2 trillion. Conversely, OpenAI's CEO has made it abundantly clear that the company will not pursue an IPO before 2026. This stance presents a sharp contrast to the scenario just three months prior when an application was filed. At present, both firms are grappling with substantial expenditures on computing resources, yet their financial strains remain manageable in the near term.

Anthropic distinguishes itself with a growth story that resonates more with Wall Street, characterized by swift annualized revenue growth and projected adjusted operating profits that are expected to stay positive for two consecutive quarters. In contrast, OpenAI's revenue growth is trailing, with forecasts indicating an intensifying cash burn. The delay in its IPO plans could be attributed to financial preparedness and growth-related pressures.

Following its public debut, Anthropic will be subject to market scrutiny, and the financial data it discloses could shape valuation trends throughout the entire AI sector. OpenAI, on the other hand, might choose to adopt a wait-and-see approach, adjusting its timeline for going public based on market dynamics, with the ultimate outcome yet to be seen.