Anthropic unveils plans for major UK expansion after OpenAI announces first permanent London office - CNBC

Anthropic is expanding its presence in London with new office space for 800 people. This announcement comes days after rival OpenAI unveiled plans for its first permanent UK office. The expansion follows a reported campaign by UK officials to court Anthropic after the company's disagreement with the U.S. Pentagon.

The UK's new Sovereign AI unit, which began operations this week with a £500m remit to invest in UK-based AI companies, offers benefits including fast visa decisions and access to government contracts. Anthropic's expansion aligns with this government initiative to attract AI talent and investment. The company recently determined its Mythos AI model was too dangerous for general release.

This move represents a significant increase in Anthropic's UK footprint and reflects ongoing competition between leading AI firms for global talent and strategic positioning. It also highlights the UK government's active efforts to become a hub for AI development following Brexit.