Anthropic, a startup based in San Francisco, is often regarded as an independent player in the AI race. However, recent revelations suggest its ties with Google run deeper than previously known. Court documents obtained by The New York Times indicate that Google owns 14% of Anthropic’s shares and plans to inject an additional $750 million this year through a convertible debt deal. In total, Google’s investments in Anthropic have now surpassed $3 billion.

Although Google lacks voting rights, board representation, or direct control over the company, its backing has raised questions about Anthropic's independence. As AI startups increasingly rely on funding from tech giants, regulators are scrutinizing whether these deals provide unfair advantages to established players. Notably, the Department of Justice recently withdrew a proposal that could have forced the divestment of some of these shares.

While advancing its own technologies, Google has quietly been funding a rival, seemingly as a strategic hedge. At the same time, Amazon is also investing in Anthropic—committing up to $8 billion. This raises important questions about what such connections mean for Anthropic and other major AI startups. Are they still independent pioneers, or are they gradually becoming extensions of larger tech conglomerates?