Anthropic investor talks put a possible IPO in focus as Workday jumps

Anthropic investor talks are drawing attention as the AI company weighs what CNBC described as early outreach to potential backers before a possible initial public offering. For investors, the key distinction is that this is preliminary reporting, not a confirmed IPO filing, and CNBC said the discussions had not reached company financials or a valuation.

CNBC, citing unnamed sources, reported that Anthropic Chief Financial Officer Krishna Rao was leading the high-level meetings. A possible IPO would allow a private company to sell shares to the public for the first time, but CNBC's report did not establish a timetable or terms for any offering.

What did CNBC report about Anthropic investor talks?

The reported meetings were early conversations with prospective investors and did not include specific financial information or a proposed valuation, according to CNBC. That leaves major questions about pricing, timing and the structure of any deal unanswered.

Anthropic's growing prominence also has implications beyond a potential listing. CNBC previously reported that Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet have recorded gains tied in part to investments in private AI companies including Anthropic and OpenAI. Those valuation changes can affect reported earnings even though they do not reflect revenue from a company's core operations.

Workday rises on unconfirmed Silver Lake takeover report

Workday shares gained nearly 18% on Aug. 13 after CNBC reported that private-equity firm Silver Lake was in talks to acquire the human-resources software company. CNBC said the move was Workday's biggest one-day increase in 10 years.

The potential transaction remains unconfirmed. CNBC reported that neither Workday nor Silver Lake responded to its requests for comment. Investors should view the stock move as a reaction to a reported possibility, rather than evidence that a purchase agreement has been signed.

Apple opens Houston training center

Apple opened its 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston on Aug. 13, according to the company. The center offers free training and educational sessions for small and medium-sized businesses, using interactive labs and manufacturing equipment. Apple calls it its second U.S. manufacturing learning site.

The center is located at Apple's Houston facility, where the company says advanced AI servers are built and shipped. Apple said Mac mini production at the location is scheduled to start later in 2026. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the Houston facility in less than nine months.

Separately, CNBC reported that a federal trade court upheld President Donald Trump's removal of the de minimis exemption. The exemption had allowed imports valued below $800 to enter the United States without tax, CNBC said.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.