Anthropic, Backed by Amazon, Launches Claude AI Assistant in Europe Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup backed by Amazon, announced on Monday its launch of its generative AI assistant Claude in Europe, slated for Tuesday. Claude will be accessible to both individuals and businesses through web platforms and an iPhone app.

For users seeking access to all its models, including the advanced Claude 3 Opus, Anthropic offers a paid subscription-based version called Claude Pro. Additionally, the company is introducing Claude Team, subscription-based plans tailored for businesses, priced at 28 euros ($30) per month before value-added tax (VAT).

Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder at Anthropic, emphasized the company’s commitment to accuracy, security, and privacy in a statement on Tuesday.

As AI technology advances, there are growing concerns about its impact on employment and privacy. Earlier this year, the European Union Parliament passed the world’s first major regulatory framework, the AI Act, to govern this emerging technology. The Act aims to identify and implement rules based on the levels of risk AI poses, categorizing risk levels into low, medium, high, and unacceptable.

Anthropic highlights that its Claude assistant is proficient in several European languages, including French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

Although Claude.ai is already accessible for free in the U.K. via web and mobile platforms, this marks the first time the product is being launched for users in both EU and non-EU countries like Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.

Anthropic has swiftly risen as one of the most prominent and anticipated generative AI companies in the market. With investors valuing the firm at a staggering $18.4 billion as of March, Amazon’s $2.75 billion investment in the startup, bringing its total investment to $4 billion, has raised concerns among regulators regarding potential implications for the company’s independence.

Regulators in the United Kingdom are currently evaluating whether Amazon’s investment and partnership with Anthropic, along with similar deals made by Microsoft with generative AI firms, could constitute mergers that might diminish competition.

Amazon asserts that its collaboration with Anthropic represents a limited corporate investment, distinct from a merger. Similarly, Microsoft refutes claims that its agreements with AI startups OpenAI and Mistral, as well as talent acquisitions from Inflection, equate to merger activities.