Anthropic Launches AI Consultancy and Claude Duet Amid IPO Valuation Debate

Anthropic is advancing its commercial strategy with a new European consultancy and the release of Claude Duet, even as investor scrutiny intensifies over its massive losses and valuation ahead of an initial public offering.

New Ventures

Anthropic plans to launch a standalone AI consultancy in Europe backed by private equity firm Hg, targeting software and white-collar industries with offices in London and Berlin by late 2026 Source: The Next Web. This follows a similar US model involving Blackstone. Simultaneously, Anthropic released Claude Duet, a background-running agent for Pro and Max subscribers built on Claude Opus 5.5, designed to automate professional tasks like scheduling and data analysis while competing with OpenAI’s Dots and Meta’s Muse Source: TechCrunch.

Financial Reality vs. Ambition

Despite these product launches, financial disclosures reveal significant challenges. Anthropic reported an $80.7 billion net loss in the first half of 2026, driven largely by $72 billion in accounting charges related to convertible notes Source: Al Jazeera. While third-quarter revenue reportedly rose nearly 50% to $16.8 billion, investors are reassessing the company’s worth. Some sources suggest a valuation closer to $1.5 trillion, down from earlier expectations of $2 trillion Source: Al Jazeera.

Market Context and Skepticism

The financial news coincides with reports that rival OpenAI is raising $30 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation, potentially altering the competitive landscape before Anthropic’s debut Source: CNBC. Meanwhile, some researchers question Anthropic’s claims that AI has drastically reduced entry-level hiring, suggesting such narratives may be aimed at boosting pre-IPO valuations rather than reflecting broader industry trends Source: The Guardian. Additionally, analysts highlight growing competition from Chinese AI models as a key risk factor for Anthropic’s future market share Source: South China Morning Post.