Anthropic is considering releasing its next major AI model earlier than planned as OpenAI’s recently launched Astra gains traction with enterprise customers, according to a fresh Reuters report. The company could also delay its expected IPO beyond the U.S. midterm elections instead of pursuing the previously discussed October timeline. The potential acceleration contrasts with CEO Dario Amodei’s public call, made only days earlier, for slower development of increasingly capable systems because of safety concerns. Enterprise customers are especially important because they can provide recurring usage, long-term contracts and substantially higher spending than individual subscribers. An IPO would add quarterly earnings expectations, financial disclosure and comparisons with OpenAI and other competitors, giving Anthropic a reason to strengthen revenue and launch another model before going public. The company’s choices reflect the broader tension between AI safety concerns and pressure for faster commercial expansion amid a projected $3.6 trillion infrastructure boom.