Major Pre-IPO Move! Anthropic Plans $6 Billion Acquisition of Chip Optimization Firm Decart AI

Anthropic is in negotiations to acquire artificial intelligence startup Decart AI in a deal valued at approximately $6 billion, which would become the largest known acquisition to date for the developer of the Claude model.

According to Bloomberg, Decart's "world model" technology and chip efficiency optimization software are expected to help Anthropic expand its existing computing infrastructure at a lower cost and absorb continuously rising computational demand. If the deal is completed, the Decart team will be integrated into Anthropic's inference and performance department.

The negotiations have not yet been finalized, and the deal may still fall through. The news of the acquisition emerged as Anthropic is actively preparing for its highly anticipated initial public offering, with massive investments in computing power having become a significant source of financial pressure.

Decart: Dual Value of World Models and Computing Efficiency

Decart was founded in 2023 by three Israeli engineers: brothers Dean Leitersdorf and Orian Leitersdorf, along with Moshe Shalev. The company's core business covers two main areas: first, "world models" aimed at simulating the physical world; and second, infrastructure software that enhances chip operating efficiency and reduces AI training costs.

Insiders pointed out that Decart's ability to use AI for instant processing of real-time video demonstrates its team's deep accumulation in high-quality infrastructure, which is one of the key considerations for Anthropic's acquisition.

In terms of applications, Decart's technology already covers multiple vertical scenarios such as autonomous driving and e-commerce. Its Lucy AI model can capture user video feeds in real time to generate high-resolution virtual try-on effects, allowing consumers to intuitively see how clothing or accessories look when worn—a feature that has long been a technical challenge in fashion e-commerce, with realistic fabric rendering being particularly tricky. E-commerce platform eBay is both an investor in and a customer of Decart.

Furthermore, Decart's technology has been applied in live streaming scenarios on platforms such as Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube, serving commercial clients including advertising agencies.

Rapidly Rising Valuation and Strong Financing Background

In May this year, Decart completed a $300 million financing round led by Radical Ventures, with participation from Nvidia, Atreides Management, Valor Equity Partners, and Adobe Ventures. Early investors such as Sequoia Capital, Benchmark, and Zeev Ventures also followed up. According to The Wall Street Journal, this round valued Decart at nearly $4 billion, a significant increase from the $3.1 billion valuation in August 2025.

If the $6 billion acquisition negotiation is ultimately successful, it would represent a premium of approximately 50% over Decart's latest financing valuation, reflecting the market's high demand for the world model sector and AI infrastructure talent.

Strategic Layout Amid the Computing Arms Race

This acquisition negotiation reflects the continuous escalation of computing investments by leading AI enterprises. Bloomberg reported that both OpenAI and Anthropic have committed to investing hundreds of billions or even more in data centers and high-end chips, increasingly relying on diversified hardware suppliers to meet surging computational demands.

Anthropic has rarely engaged in large-scale mergers and acquisitions in the past, but its spending on computing infrastructure continues to expand. High computing costs are considered necessary investments to support the research and development of frontier models and customer services, but they may also put pressure on Anthropic's financial status as it prepares for its listing.