OpenAI rival Anthropic is in advanced talks to raise $2 billion in a funding round that would value the startup at $60 billion, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Artificial intelligence startups scooped up around one-third of venture capital dollars spent around the world last year, Crunchbase data shows, and Bay Area companies benefited.

The funding round is being led by the venture firm Lightspeed Venture Partners, people familiar with the matter said. The $60 billion valuation includes the money Anthropic plans

Venture capitalists put $97 billion into artificial intelligence startups in the US last year — a new record in a year of multibillion-dollar megarounds for companies like Elon Musk’s xAI, OpenAI and Anthropic.

AI startups in the United States raked in an unprecedented $97 billion in funding last year. That’s nearly half of the $209 billion raised by all US startups in 2024. It’s a big number—biggest ever—and it’s no surprise when you consider the names driving it: xAI,