Anthropic Hires Google Executive to Develop In-House AI Chips

Anthropic PBC is expanding its infrastructure capabilities by hiring Amir Salek, a former Google executive and founder of Google's custom chip program, to lead a push into in-house semiconductor development. The San Francisco-based AI lab intends to reduce its reliance on external vendors such as Nvidia and Amazon while mitigating potential supply shortages.

To support this growth, the company has secured chip orders from Fractile and capacity deals with Riot Platforms, Volta Infra Holdings, and SpaceX. These infrastructure moves come as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering as early as the end of August 2026. The company aims to match or exceed the record-setting size of the SpaceX IPO.

Financial reports indicate a period of aggressive spending and investment. Anthropic raised $65 billion in May at a $965 billion valuation, though it reported a net loss of nearly $42 billion in 2025. Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei may adopt super-voting shares to maintain greater control of the company following the public offering.