Letter to Anthropic Re: Planned Initial Public Offering (comptroller.nyc.gov)

Mark D. Levine, the Comptroller of New York City, has urged Anthropic to pause its planned initial public offering (IPO) until the company sufficiently addresses significant concerns around artificial intelligence (AI) safety and governance. Despite having signed a “morally binding” accord with the White House, Levine argues that these measures are inadequate given the unprecedented risks posed by AI. He highlights that Anthropic has publicly acknowledged the potential for AI to exceed human oversight and emphasized the necessity to slow development rates to mitigate risks. The significance of this call lies in the weight of Levine’s position, given that he oversees a vast public pension system with over $325 billion in assets. As Anthropic prepares for an IPO that could value the company at around $2 trillion, Levine raises alarms about the potential gap between the company’s governance structure and accountability, particularly concerning the serious risks detailed in their draft S-1 filing. With warnings about possible catastrophic consequences of AI without proper safeguards, Levine insists that Anthropic must clarify its plans for risk management and governance before proceeding, highlighting the urgent need for responsible development in a field that is advancing at an unprecedented pace.