US artificial intelligence company Anthropic has said that it plans to commit 5% of its shares to a newly established public benefit fund, with the stake potentially increasing as the company's valuation grows.
The initial commitment to the Anthropic Public Benefit Fund is subject to stockholder approval, while an additional 2% of shares may be allocated at the board's discretion for every 50% increase in the company's value above a predetermined baseline.
The fund will support initiatives addressing the broader societal effects of AI, including potential labour market disruptions, an issue Anthropic has already committed $200 million to researching and addressing.
The fund will operate as a wholly owned limited liability company (LLC), allowing flexibility in distributing resources through donations to nonprofits or direct financial support to specific populations.
The initiative builds on existing commitments from Anthropic's co-founders, who pledged to donate 80% of their equity holdings, and an employee donation programme involving approximately half its workforce.
Combined with the new commitment, roughly 20% of Anthropic's shares will be dedicated to public benefit initiatives, including existing pledges, with potential increases tied to future valuation milestones.
Elon Musk, who runs Anthropic rival xAI, on X said he recommended "giving the shares directly to the public."
Anthropic cited the potential impact of AI on workers as one area of focus for the new fund, building on a previously announced $200 million commitment to study and address labour-market disruption.
Global companies have cut thousands of jobs after investing heavily in AI, with many, primarily tech firms, pointing to higher efficiencies from the technology's rapid adoption.
IMF research shows that some 40% of jobs will be either augmented, downgraded or eliminated by AI, with the number as high as 60% in advanced economies, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said last week
