If you live online, you'll have noticed the vibe has shifted pretty substantially against Anthropic in recent weeks. Whereas even just a few months ago, the company was seen as the more scrappy, idealistic underdog – one which happened to be formed by founders who left the seemingly unstoppable foe in OpenAI – that tide has now turned. Certainly part of it is just the shift from underdog to presumed leader in AI. But a lot of it has to do with the way Anthropic carries itself as a company. Whereas the strong stances and rhetoric were once seen as almost endearing, now they're seen more as a problem. From the US Government to Big Tech and many in between.
The mood now feels so negative against Anthropic that it seems worth asking the obvious question that no one wants to bother with any longer: what if they're right?