Anthropic reportedly in talks to buy Israeli-founded AI startup at $6B valuation
Israeli AI startup Decart, founded in 2023 by Dean Leitersdorf and Moshe Shalev, is reportedly in talks to be acquired by U.S.-based AI company Anthropic for up to $6 billion. The potential deal, first reported by Bloomberg, would be Anthropic's first acquisition in Israel and its largest to date. Decart specializes in developing software platforms that optimize AI model training across major hardware providers like Nvidia, Amazon, and Google. Its technology reduces computational costs by improving chip efficiency. While Anthropic and Decart have not commented on the talks, other potential buyers, including SpaceX and Nvidia, had previously shown interest. Decart's AI capabilities include generating realistic video simulations for applications such as virtual shopping, gaming, and robotics training.
Elon Musk has denied reports that SpaceX is acquiring Israeli AI startup Decart, following conflicting media coverage about potential buyers of the company. According to Israeli financial outlet Calcalist, SpaceX had allegedly entered discussions to purchase Decart, but Musk refuted these claims. Meanwhile, separate reports suggest that U.S.-based AI firm Anthropic is in advanced talks to acquire the Israeli company for up to $6 billion. The initial reports emerged from Bloomberg, which cited unnamed sources indicating that Anthropic, known for developing the Claude chatbot, is negotiating a deal with Decart. If finalized, this would represent Anthropic’s first acquisition in Israel and its largest to date. The Israeli startup, founded in late 2023 by Dean Leitersdorf and Moshe Shalev, specializes in creating platforms that optimize the use of high-performance computer chips required for training and running AI models. Decart’s technology allows for more efficient utilization of hardware from major tech firms like Nvidia, Amazon, and Google. This efficiency reduces the computational costs associated with training AI models, making it highly valuable in an industry where demand for powerful AI systems continues to grow rapidly. Anthropic has not officially commented on the potential acquisition, nor has Decart responded to requests for clarification. However, the startup has previously raised $300 million in a funding round last month, valuing the company at approximately $4 billion. Investors in this round included Radical Ventures, along with notable entities such as Nvidia, Atreides Management, Valor Equity, Adobe Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and eBay Ventures. Additional individual investors include OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, members of the Nintendo family, and gaming investor Moritz Baier-Lentz. Decart’s technology extends beyond optimizing AI training processes. It includes generative AI foundation models capable of transforming human imagination into visual content without requiring complex programming. These models enable users to manipulate live video streams using text prompts, allowing changes to color schemes, clothing items, environmental settings, or even removing objects from scenes. This capability has applications ranging from e-commerce, where consumers can virtually try on clothes, to gaming, where players can customize game environments dynamically. Beyond consumer applications, Decart’s technology is being developed to enhance the training and testing of humanoid robots and autonomous driving systems. The startup currently operates from offices in Tel Aviv, New York, and San Francisco, employing 106 individuals, with 89 based in Israel. The interest in Decart reflects broader trends within the AI sector, where companies are increasingly investing in infrastructure and technologies that support the development of advanced AI systems. Both Anthropic and rival AI firm OpenAI have committed substantial resources to building data centers equipped with high-end computing hardware to meet growing demands for AI capabilities. Despite the reported interest from multiple parties, including previous speculation involving U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, the final outcome of these discussions remains uncertain. While some reports indicate active negotiations, others suggest that deals might still collapse before reaching a formal agreement. As the AI landscape evolves, the potential acquisition of Decart underscores the strategic importance of securing cutting-edge technologies that can drive innovation and maintain competitive advantage in the global market.
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