VCs break taboo by backing both Anthropic, OpenAI in AI battle
Forget loyalty, darling; in the AI gold rush, venture capitalists are proving that monogamy is a dated concept. The revelation that titans like Sequoia and Altimeter are pouring billions into Anthropic, mere years after backing OpenAI, isn't just breaking a 'taboo' – it's performing an entire interpretive dance on its grave. It seems when the potential returns have enough zeros, VCs are perfectly happy to play the field, effectively insuring against *any* outcome and ensuring they catch the biggest fish, no matter which pond it ultimately swims in.
This strategic promiscuity highlights the unprecedented stakes in the generative AI arms race. For instance, Sequoia Capital, a long-time supporter of OpenAI since 2021, is now set to join Altimeter Capital in Anthropic's latest financing, an astronomical round expected to exceed $20 billion. This dual-track investment strategy by prominent firms underscores a high-stakes hedging bet, acknowledging the immense potential of both AI leaders while mitigating the risk of picking a single winner in an incredibly fast-evolving, capital-intensive sector.
