On October 14, 2026, New York City Comptroller Mark D. Levine wrote to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, urging Anthropic to pause its planned initial public offering (IPO) until it addresses concerns about AI safety, governance and the pace of model development. Levine’s letter lays out the disclosures he wants before the offering moves ahead.
What Levine wants Anthropic to explain
Levine argues that preparing for an IPO could divert attention and resources from safety work. He also says a voluntary White House accord signed by Anthropic and five other companies is insufficient.
His letter asks Anthropic to explain:
- How it will implement appropriate AI-safety audits and controls.
- What those controls will cover and the projected timeline for putting them in place.
- Whether and how the controls would address Dario Amodei’s call to slow the pace at which AI-model capabilities advance.
Levine requested a written response and offered to discuss the issues further. His letter also refers to a reported possible $2 trillion valuation. NeoTeo’s earlier coverage examined that separate valuation question.
Why New York City’s pension funds matter
The pension funds add a financial dimension to Levine’s request. AFP reported on October 16 that the funds managed $330 billion at the end of August 2026 and provide retirement benefits to more than 750,000 people. AFP also reported that the New York City Comptroller’s Office estimated the funds’ exposure to Anthropic at around $7 million, and that exposure could grow if Anthropic shares enter indexes tracked by the city. AFP’s report quoted an office spokesperson saying the funds would become long-term investors if Anthropic were included in an index fund tracked by the city.
