Hajra Naz
Anthropic announced today that it’s creating a “public benefit fund.” The company says the fund will give it “increased flexibility and scale” to support projects for societal good.
How the Fund Is Set Up
Anthropic will commit 5% of its shares to the fund. The fund will be a wholly-owned entity within the company. Anthropic can also add more. It has the option to contribute another 2% for every 50% rise in the company’s value.
How the Money Could Be Used
Anthropic gave some broad ideas. The fund might make “large donations to traditional nonprofits.” It might also make “direct distributions to specific populations.” These are early ideas, not firm plans.
Read More: Anthropic changes user policy to restrict model abuse and election interference
AI and the Job Market
AI’s effect on jobs is another concern. Anthropic has already committed $200 million to study it. The company said that may not be enough. “Given the pace of AI progress, bolder approaches may be needed. The Fund will have the versatility to pursue them.”
The Backdrop
The announcement comes as public opinion of the AI industry grows more negative. CEO Dario Amodei has described the problem as “fundamentally a crisis of trust.” A fund aimed at public good may be one way to rebuild that trust.
Who Decides?
Many people will want to know who picks the projects. Anthropic hasn’t said yet. It plans to share more about the fund’s structure and governance in the coming months.
