The UK government is seeking to persuade artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic to expand in London, as tensions between the company and US defence authorities create an opening to attract investment.
According to the Financial Times, officials at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have drawn up proposals ranging from a larger London office to a potential dual UK-US stock listing. The plans are backed by Downing Street and are expected to be presented to chief executive Dario Amodei during a visit to Britain in late May.
The UK’s approach has intensified after the US Department of Defense designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk, following the company’s refusal to allow its AI system to be used for certain military applications. The dispute prompted political criticism in Washington, including comments from US President Donald Trump attacking the company’s stance.
Last month, London mayor Sadiq Khan sent a letter to Amodei, positioning the capital as an alternative base, stating: “I believe that London can provide a stable, proportionate and pro-innovation environment in which this kind of AI can flourish.”
The UK government’s outreach reflects a wider global push to build domestic AI capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign providers. Britain recently announced plans for a £40 million publicly backed research lab focused on advanced AI applications across sectors including healthcare and transport.
The FT notes that UK officials acknowledge the absence of a domestic rival to leading US AI groups, increasing the importance of partnerships with companies such as Anthropic. The start-up currently employs about 200 staff in Britain, including roughly 60 researchers, and appointed former prime minister Rishi Sunak as an adviser last year.
Competition for AI investment in London is intensifying, with OpenAI committing to expand its presence and Google continuing development of a large campus in King’s Cross. The Financial Times reports that Anthropic is also considering an initial public offering as early as this year, although one person familiar with the discussions described a dual listing as “the dream” but unlikely.
Peter Kyle, the UK business secretary, told the paper that the government’s strategy extends beyond any single company. “I set up the Global Talent Taskforce to assertively get out there and sell all the benefits of investing, innovating and scaling in the UK,” he said, adding that “it’s wrong to say it’s about listing, it’s about talent.”
Elsewhere, Anthropic said it had signed a new agreement with Google and Broadcom to secure multiple gigawatts of next-generation computing capacity, with infrastructure expected to come online from 2027. Krishna Rao, the company’s chief financial officer, said: “We are making our most significant compute commitment to date to keep pace with our unprecedented growth,” as the group reported annualised revenue surpassing $30bn in 2026.
