Anthropic Weighs New Model Release Before IPO to Counter OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra Momentum

Reuters reported on Sept 18 that Anthropic is considering releasing a new AI model to blunt OpenAI's momentum since the Sept 3 launch of GPT-6 Astra, ahead of an IPO now expected after the November midterms. The safety evaluation of the next model is under way; no timing decisions have been finalized. The move sits in tension with CEO Dario Amodei's Sept 12 call to slow frontier development.