Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House

Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government. Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become one of the hottest names in AI, and question whether its fall out with the Pentagon over how its software is used in war could stifle its phenomenal growth. If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business. Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story. Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful. We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins. (Picture: The Anthropic logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on the 31st of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)