Anthropic, the AI powerhouse based in San Francisco, reported a staggering net loss of $80.7 billion in the first half of 2026, primarily due to accounting charges. The company raised concerns regarding the increasing opposition to data centers, which could pose a risk to its business operations.
As Anthropic gears up for a major IPO potentially worth up to $2 trillion, it expressed unease about the rising tide of anti-data center and anti-AI sentiments among voters.
In its filing, which was reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Anthropic noted that the organized resistance against data centers has gained traction across various regions.
Under the leadership of CEO Dario Amodei, the company acknowledged that its visibility could attract heightened scrutiny toward its projects.
Most of Anthropic’s data center capabilities are in the United States, although it has plans to establish additional facilities internationally. However, public sentiment towards AI has been dipping recently, accompanying an increase in protests against data center developments.
Lior Prosor from Deep33 Ventures played down the notion that this backlash would hinder Anthropic’s IPO plans or its immediate growth. He remarked that any new data centers currently going through the permitting stages wouldn’t be operational until at least the second half of 2028.
Still, he noted that regulatory challenges could become a more significant issue in the long run.
Anthropic is currently seeking more computing power than its primary cloud partners can offer. The company is facing over $600 billion in future costs related to cloud computing and chip leases, with ongoing negotiations that could add another $150 billion, according to the Journal.
Prosor acknowledged the serious risks Anthropic is assuming with its vast computing commitments, even as the rising demand for AI has benefited those companies that secured resources early on. He suggested that Anthropic should aim to raise substantial capital to navigate possible future obstacles, saying, “This is not going to be straight up and to the right forever.”
The company’s loss, which increased from $13 billion the previous year, included approximately $72 billion in accounting charges due to fluctuations in the value of financing instruments like convertible notes.
Interestingly, the Amodei siblings, who lead Anthropic, earned less in total compensation last year than the median CEO of an S&P 500 tech company. Dario and his sister Daniela each received a base salary of around $655,000 in 2025. However, additional stock and option awards raised Dario’s total compensation to about $18 million, while Daniela’s reached approximately $16.5 million, according to the filing.
Their compensation, while aligning with the median figures across the S&P 500, fell short compared to the tech sector’s average pay, as noted by MyLogIQ data cited by the Journal.
Should they meet certain milestones, both siblings may earn additional equity. Notably, they’ve pledged 80% of their stakes for philanthropic purposes, and the company plans to allocate 5% of its shares to a newly announced public benefit fund.
In terms of revenue, Anthropic’s earnings soared to $16.3 billion in the first half of 2026, a significant increase from $1.1 billion during the same period last year. However, computing and infrastructure costs also rose dramatically, nearing $9 billion, compared to $2.3 billion previously.
Moreover, the company cautioned that its financial health remains reliant on a select group of major clients, with just two customers representing about 20% of its first-half revenue. Anthropic anticipates that a substantial portion of its sales will continue to stem from a limited customer base for the foreseeable future, as outlined in its prospectus.
Anthropic chose not to comment on the disclosures when approached by the Journal, as the AI giant prepares to engage public investors to fund its ambitious growth plans.
