Anthropic and Physical Intelligence: Acquisition Rumor

A Year of Frenzied Acquisitions in AI

The current year has been marked by a series of acquisitions in the artificial intelligence sector, with major players like Anthropic and OpenAI leading the charge. These companies have intensified their efforts to acquire development tools, AI service companies, and startups specializing in product testing. Their goal is clear: to transform the capabilities of their models into tangible revenue and expand their influence faster than their competitors. It is in this context that a rumor regarding Anthropic's acquisition of the robotics startup Physical Intelligence captured attention, spreading rapidly even after a denial from the startup's CEO.

Physical Intelligence: A Startup Like No Other

Physical Intelligence is not an ordinary robotics company. Co-founded by Lachy Groom, a renowned investor-entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, it has managed to attract attention and raise over a billion dollars. The startup was even in discussions for a new billion-dollar funding round, aiming for an impressive valuation of $11 billion. Its π0.5 model is widely used in robotics research, making it a key player in the field.

The Rumor: Founded or Unfounded?

Although the rumor was officially denied, it was not entirely unfounded. According to The Information, acquisition discussions did indeed take place between Anthropic and Physical Intelligence this spring. Tech blogger Robert Scoble, whose post on X triggered the wave of speculation, may have had inaccurate information, but it seems there was a kernel of truth.

Reactions from Physical Intelligence

Physical Intelligence's response to this rumor was rather discreet. CEO Karol Hausman informed employees that the reports were false via a Slack message accompanied by a humorous gif from "The Office." This reaction did not really dispel doubts, leaving room for speculation.

Anthropic and OpenAI: A Race for Acquisitions

This year, Anthropic has made four known acquisitions, while OpenAI has been even more aggressive, acquiring at least 17 companies since 2023. Both companies are also preparing to go public, with Anthropic filing for an IPO on June 1, followed by OpenAI a week later. These IPOs could be among the largest in U.S. history.

Why is Robotics Crucial?

Robotics has become a major strategic issue. Understanding the physical world is seen as essential for the development of superintelligent systems, a domain where text alone is insufficient. OpenAI has already attempted to break into this field with a robotic hand capable of solving a Rubik's Cube but shut down its robotics group in 2021. However, the team was relaunched in 2024 to develop a humanoid robotics lab in San Francisco.

Anthropic and Its Robotics Research

Unlike OpenAI, Anthropic has not yet built a hardware lab but has published research through its internal group. This research includes Project Fetch, which tested Claude's ability to assist non-experts in programming a robot dog. A second phase showed that a newer model could accomplish these tasks 20 times faster than the best previous team.

The Stakes of Acquiring Physical Intelligence

Acquiring an experienced robotics team could allow Anthropic to gain years of development. However, a complication lies in the fact that Physical Intelligence shares investors with OpenAI, including Khosla Ventures and Thrive Capital. OpenAI is also an investor in Physical Intelligence, which could give it a strategic advantage.

OpenAI: A Key Player in the Game

OpenAI, already a shareholder in Physical Intelligence, may have information rights or a right of first refusal on a sale to a competitor. These protective provisions are common among major strategic investors. If Physical Intelligence is indeed in play, OpenAI could claim a stronger position than Anthropic.

Conclusion

The situation remains unclear, but it underscores the intense competition between Anthropic and OpenAI to dominate the AI and robotics market. These developments could have major implications for the future of technology and innovation.