Anthropic Acquires AI Startup Vercept Amid Investor Turmoil
Anthropic recently snapped up Vercept, a promising AI startup based in Seattle, to beef up its engineering talent. This move follows their earlier purchase of the coding platform Bun back in December, all aimed at advancing their AI model Claude. Vercept specialized in creating tools for handling intricate agent tasks, including their flagship product Vy, which lets users control a remote MacBook through the cloud. Unfortunately, as part of the deal, Anthropic plans to discontinue Vy on March 25, giving current users a short window to transition elsewhere.
The roots of Vercept trace back to A12, a respected AI incubator in Seattle that spun out from the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Many of the co-founders, who had stints as researchers at the Allen Institute, brought deep expertise to the table. They envisioned redefining personal computing in the age of AI agents, pushing boundaries on how machines interact with everyday tech. With this acquisition, Anthropic gains fresh perspectives to fuel its ongoing innovations.
Vercept managed to secure a hefty $50 million in funding, underscoring investor confidence in its potential. Seth Bannon from A12 served as the primary backer, while a stellar lineup of angel investors jumped on board. That group included Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, Jeff Dean, chief scientist at Google DeepMind, Kyle Vogt, founder of Cruise, and Arash Ferdowsi, co-founder of Dropbox. Such high-profile support highlights how Vercept stood out in a crowded AI landscape.
In announcing the acquisition, Anthropic revealed that Vercept’s co-founders Kiana Ehsani, Luca Weihs, and Ross Girshick would join their ranks. Ehsani, who led Vercept as CEO, shared the news on LinkedIn, expressing excitement about the future. However, not every founder is making the leap. Matt Deitke, another key co-founder, had already moved on last year to Meta’s Superintelligence Lab with a staggering $250 million compensation package.
Deitke took to the social platform X to congratulate his former colleagues on the deal, showing no hard feelings despite his departure. Meanwhile, Oren Etzioni, listed as both a co-founder and investor in Vercept, opted not to join Anthropic. Etzioni, a prominent figure in Seattle’s tech scene as the founder of the Allen Institute for AI, voiced his disappointment publicly. He lamented that after just over a year in operation, Vercept was folding and leaving clients with only 30 days to exit the platform.
Etzioni went further in his LinkedIn post, pointing fingers at Seth Bannon for sharing blame in the startup’s shortcomings. He claimed Bannon contributed to Vercept’s failure by not bringing in the right business talent early on. This sparked an immediate backlash from Bannon, who fired back online, denouncing Etzioni’s remarks as unfair. The exchange quickly escalated into a heated public spat, with both sides hurling accusations of dishonesty and even hints of legal action.
The drama unfolded rapidly on social media, drawing attention to the tensions behind the scenes of what seemed like a straightforward acquisition. It serves as a reminder of how high-stakes AI ventures can unravel personal and professional relationships. Despite the conflict, Etzioni still extended well-wishes to the team heading to Anthropic, acknowledging their impressive skills. Observers in the tech world watched closely, as such investor feuds are rare but revealing.
This acquisition aligns with broader trends in the AI industry, where larger players like Anthropic scoop up smaller innovators to accelerate growth. Vercept’s focus on agent-based computing could influence Claude’s evolution, potentially leading to more sophisticated AI applications. For startups, it underscores the importance of aligning visions among founders and backers from the start. The shutdown of Vy might disappoint users, but it opens doors for Anthropic to integrate those ideas into bigger projects.
Looking ahead, the integration of Vercept’s talent into Anthropic promises exciting developments in AI agents. Seattle’s tech ecosystem continues to churn out influential startups, even if some face rocky ends. This story illustrates the volatile nature of AI investments, where rapid progress meets interpersonal challenges. As the field evolves, deals like this could become more common, reshaping how companies build their futures.
What are your experiences with AI startups or investor dynamics? Share your thoughts in the comments.
