Anthropic and OpenAI: The Rivalry Redefining the Future of AI

A Rivalry Born from a Shared Vision

The rivalry between Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic has roots that extend well before the public tensions. It dates back to a time when both men shared a common vision for the future of artificial intelligence. This vision took shape during a meeting in July 2015, where Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and other influential figures in the AI field gathered at the Rosewood Hotel in Menlo Park, California. This dinner was the setting for crucial discussions about the need to create an AI lab capable of competing with Google, which was then perceived as dominating the sector.

The Beginnings of OpenAI

Following these discussions, OpenAI was born, with the mission of developing safe and beneficial artificial intelligence for humanity. Although Amodei initially chose not to join the project, he eventually came on board at OpenAI as the head of AI safety about a year later. This decision marked the beginning of a collaboration that would quickly evolve into rivalry.

Rise and Tensions at OpenAI

In September 2018, Amodei was promoted to director of research at OpenAI, a position that allowed him to play a key role in the development of cutting-edge technologies like GPT-2. However, this period was also marked by growing tensions between Amodei and Altman, exacerbated by disagreements over the strategic direction of the company and the safety of AI models.

The Era of GPT-3 and Divergences

The launch of GPT-3 in June 2020 was a pivotal moment for OpenAI, showcasing the extent of the company's technological advancements. Amodei acknowledged the impressive capabilities of the model while emphasizing the challenges related to its safety. These concerns heightened internal tensions, with Amodei advocating for a slowdown in updates to prevent malicious uses.

The Break and the Creation of Anthropic

Disagreements between Amodei and Altman reached a critical point in December 2020, leading to Amodei's departure along with several colleagues from OpenAI. At the beginning of 2021, Amodei founded Anthropic with seven former OpenAI employees, including his sister Daniela. The company set out to develop human-centered AI systems, reflecting a vision distinct from that of OpenAI.

The Emergence of Claude

Despite starting from scratch, Anthropic quickly made progress, and by the summer of 2022, their chatbot Claude had completed its training. However, Amodei chose to delay its launch, concerned about the potential implications of a powerful AI. This caution contrasts with OpenAI's more aggressive approach, highlighting the differences between the two companies.

Public Jabs and Diverging Strategies

In May 2024, Amodei began publicly criticizing OpenAI, highlighting the stability of Anthropic's leadership team. By December 2025, he seized the opportunity to comment on OpenAI's decision to declare a "code red" in response to increasing competition from Google, emphasizing Anthropic's confidence in its own strategy.

Super Bowl Advertising and Confrontation

In February 2026, Anthropic launched a bold advertising campaign during the Super Bowl, implicitly criticizing OpenAI for its plan to integrate ads into AI chatbots. This initiative clearly demonstrated Anthropic's intention to position itself in direct opposition to OpenAI.

A Symbolic Image of Rivalry

During an AI summit in India in February 2026, an attempt to showcase a symbolic unity between Altman and Amodei failed, illustrating the depth of their rivalry. This scene was followed by a confrontation with the Pentagon, where Anthropic refused to yield, while OpenAI rushed to finalize a deal, according to Altman.

Towards Competing IPOs

As both companies head towards highly anticipated IPOs, their rivalry continues to grow. This intense competition could redefine the future of AI, influencing not only technological innovation but also ethical and regulatory approaches in this rapidly expanding field.