In the world of AI startups, Anthropic has quickly become a major player. Founded in 2021, this AI safety-first company has attracted significant attention for its approach to creating responsible AI.
But who exactly started this company?
The story begins with two siblings who shared a vision for safer artificial intelligence.
The Amodei Siblings: Leading the Way
At the heart of Anthropic are its co-founders, Dario and Daniela Amodei. This brother-sister duo left high-ranking positions at OpenAI to create something new.
Dario Amodei serves as the CEO of Anthropic. Before starting the company, he was the VP of Research at OpenAI, where he led important work in the AI safety field.
His sister, Daniela Amodei, takes on the role of President. She previously worked as VP of Safety at OpenAI, bringing valuable experience in responsible AI development to their new venture.
“We started Anthropic to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.” — Dario Amodei
The Founding Team: Beyond the Siblings
The Amodeis didn’t start Anthropic alone. They brought together a team of talented researchers and engineers who shared their concerns about AI development.
In fact, Anthropic began when eleven OpenAI employees broke off to form the new company. This mass departure highlighted serious differences in vision about how AI should be developed.
Among the other notable co-founders are:
- Chris Olah – A respected AI safety researcher
- Jack Clark – Former Policy Director at OpenAI
Together, this founding team brought deep expertise in both technical AI development and safety considerations.
Why They Started Anthropic
The Anthropic founders didn’t just want to create another AI company. They had a specific mission in mind.
A Focus on Safety
The team left OpenAI partly due to concerns about the direction of AI development. They wanted to create a company that put safety at the center of everything.
The Constitutional AI Approach
One of Anthropic’s innovations is what they call “Constitutional AI” – a method for training AI systems to be:
1) Helpful – Providing useful information and assistance
2) Harmless – Not causing damage or promoting harmful activities
3) Honest – Being truthful and avoiding deception
This approach guides how they develop Claude, their AI assistant.
Funding the Vision
Starting a high-tech AI company requires significant resources. The Anthropic founders secured impressive funding from the start:
Their initial funding round raised $124 million, showing strong investor confidence in the team’s expertise and vision.
Later rounds have brought in billions, including major investments from Google and Amazon.
The Founders’ Background
What prepared the Anthropic team to take on such an ambitious project?
Academic Excellence
Many of the founders, including Dario Amodei, have strong academic backgrounds in machine learning, mathematics, and computer science.
Industry Experience
Before OpenAI, several founders worked at organizations like Google Brain and DeepMind, giving them hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI systems.
Safety Research
Perhaps most importantly, many founders had specifically focused on AI safety research for years before starting Anthropic.
Their Public Presence
The Anthropic founders regularly discuss their strategy for developing AI that aligns with human values. They’ve been open about both the potential and risks of advanced AI systems.
Unlike some tech leaders who downplay risks, the Anthropic team has been consistently thoughtful about the challenges of building safe AI.
Why The Founders Matter
When you use Claude or follow Anthropic’s work, you’re engaging with the vision of these founders. Their background and values directly shape:
- What Claude can and cannot do
- How the company approaches development
- The safeguards built into their systems
What Sets Them Apart
The Anthropic founding team stands out in several ways:
- Safety-first approach – They prioritize safety over rapid deployment
- Research background – Deep technical expertise in AI systems
- Transparency – Open discussions about their methods and concerns
- Cohesive vision – A clear, shared understanding of responsible AI
Looking Forward
As AI continues to advance rapidly, the Anthropic founders’ approach to development becomes increasingly important. Their emphasis on building systems that are aligned with human values offers an alternative path for AI progress.
The team continues to grow their company while maintaining their focus on creating AI that benefits humanity.
For those interested in responsible AI development, following the work of Dario, Daniela, and the rest of the Anthropic founding team provides valuable insights into what thoughtful AI progress can look like.
