Anthropic, one of the key players in the generative artificial intelligence market, is preparing for one of the most high-profile public offerings in the sector's history. However, ahead of the IPO, the company intends to include a separate section in its securities prospectus dedicated to systemic risks associated with the growing negative perception of AI and its related infrastructure. This refers to data centers, which are becoming not only a technological but also a socio-political factor.
Public Resistance as a Risk Factor
According to my analytical assessment, the document that will appear in the coming weeks will contain a direct reference to "growing public resistance" to new data center projects. This is not just a formality: Anthropic filed its confidential application back in June, after which it held a series of closed meetings with bankers and large institutional investors in San Francisco. At these meetings, according to my information, the company's Chief Financial Officer, Krishna Rao, answered questions about competitive pressure and margins amid the expansion of open models.
The key issue worrying investors is the direct dependence of AI lab revenue on available computing power. Any slowdown in the construction of new data centers or tightening of regulatory requirements directly impacts the ability to scale models and serve clients. This is especially critical given that Anthropic's annualized revenue run rate exceeded $65 billion in July—approximately $25 billion more than OpenAI. On the over-the-counter market, the company is already valued at nearly $1 trillion, and after going public, investors expect a market capitalization of around $2 trillion, which could break SpaceX's record for funds raised.
Numbers That Cannot Be Ignored
My research confirms that Anthropic's concerns are justified. According to a Gallup poll conducted in March, 7 out of 10 Americans oppose placing AI data centers near their homes, with 48% of them strongly opposed. More recent data from Heatmap Pro (an Embold Research survey, August 8–13, sample of 2,045 registered voters) shows that the share of opponents has risen to 75%, compared with 42% a year earlier.
Anxiety is also growing over jobs. Pew Research findings show that 71% of American adults expect job losses due to AI over the next 20 years, compared with 64% in 2024. Politicians are already responding: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order tightening requirements for data center construction, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul imposed a moratorium on issuing permits for new large data centers.
From my point of view, including these risks in the prospectus is not just legal insurance but a signal to the market. Anthropic is demonstrating maturity by acknowledging that technological progress without a social license to operate becomes a toxic asset. The question is whether the industry can rebuild its dialogue with society before regulatory restrictions begin to stifle growth. Investors should closely monitor not only financial metrics but also how the company plans to mitigate these reputational and infrastructure risks in the long term.