Anthropic, the AI startup backed by major investors, is lining up investor meetings ahead of a possible initial public offering (IPO) that could occur as soon as October, according to reporting from multiple outlets. CNBC says the company is in talks with bankers who are arranging meetings with prospective investors, positioning the process for a near-term public listing. PYMNTS, citing a Bloomberg News report, says banks leading the offering are scheduled to hold investor meetings in the coming weeks. That report also notes that Anthropic and rival OpenAI have confidentially filed for an IPO, though details of those filings are not specified in the available summaries. The reporting frames the effort as part of broader competition between the two AI companies to reach the public markets first. While the timelines discussed suggest a potential October launch, both sources indicate the process depends on ongoing steps and does not confirm a final IPO date.