Anthropic Emerges as Silicon Valley’s New Favorite at Major AI Conference
This week, thousands gathered in downtown San Francisco for HumanX, a prominent AI conference. The event highlighted a significant shift in the perception of AI companies, with Anthropic emerging as the new favorite among Silicon Valley investors. The conference took place at the Moscone Center, differing considerably from last year’s venue in Las Vegas.
Anthropic’s Rise at HumanX
At HumanX, industry insiders expressed a collective sentiment favoring Anthropic over previous frontrunner OpenAI. Roseanne Winsek of Renegade Partners noted, “In Vegas last year, it felt like OpenAI was the clear winner, and now it seems like Anthropic is miles ahead.” Anthropic’s advancements, particularly the introduction of Claude Code and Claude 4, have garnered immense praise.
Valuations and Revenue Growth
- Anthropic’s current valuation is estimated at $380 billion.
- OpenAI holds a significant market value of $852 billion.
- Anthropic’s run-rate revenue has surged to over $30 billion, up from $9 billion at the end of 2025.
Jared Quincy Davis, founder and CEO of Mithril, commented on Anthropic’s strategic focus on enterprise and coding, stating, “They’re crushing it.” In contrast, OpenAI has faced skepticism regarding its recent acquisitions and leadership decisions, particularly under CEO Sam Altman.
Introducing Mythos Model
Anthropic announced its latest model, Mythos, during the conference. This model is considered so powerful that it is deemed too risky for general release. Tomasz Tunguz, founder of Theory Ventures, described Mythos as a groundbreaking development, generating significant excitement in the industry.
HumanX Conference Highlights
HumanX this year expanded to accommodate approximately 6,700 attendees, significantly larger than the previous year. Each attendee paid around $4,000 for the experience, which included networking opportunities with notable figures in the industry.
- Key attendees included billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and Lovable cofounder Anton Osika.
- The exhibition featured startups focusing on AI-driven security and automation.
- Novel experiences included a “retro lounge” and a “HumanX Dog Park” that attracted more visitors than robotic displays.
Looking Ahead
The atmosphere at HumanX was mixed, with excitement about future technologies and an undercurrent of anxiety about their implications. “The mood I’m feeling is exuberance and existential terror,” remarked Stefan Weitz, co-founder and CEO of HumanX.
Given the rapid evolution of AI, many attendees expressed the possibility of shifts in dominance among leading companies for next year’s conference in Las Vegas. “These things change so fast,” Winsek concluded, hinting that OpenAI might rise again as a contender.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the competition between Anthropic and OpenAI remains fierce, showcasing the dynamic nature of the technology sector.
