Anthropic in Talks to Acquire Robotics Startup Physical Intelligence, Sources Confirm

Key Points

• Anthropic held acquisition talks with robotics startup Physical Intelligence this spring.
• Physical Intelligence’s CEO denied the rumor via a Slack gif, but sources confirm discussions occurred.
• The startup, co‑founded by Lachy Groom, has raised over $1 billion and attracts investors like Khosla Ventures, Thrive Capital, and OpenAI.
• Anthropic filed for an IPO on June 1; OpenAI filed a week later, both positioning themselves for major public listings.
• Anthropic has made four acquisitions this year; OpenAI has acquired at least 17 companies since 2023.
• Physical Intelligence’s π0.5 model is widely used in robotics research, making it a valuable target for AI firms seeking physical‑world expertise.
• OpenAI’s existing investment in Physical Intelligence could give it preferential rights if a sale proceeds.