Goldman Sachs is advancing its integration of artificial intelligence into core banking operations through a deep partnership with AI startup Anthropic. According to a report from CNBC, the investment bank has had Anthropic engineers embedded within its teams for six months, working to build autonomous AI agents based on Anthropic's Claude model. These agents are designed to automate high-volume, time-intensive back-office tasks in accounting and compliance, such as trade reconciliation and client onboarding.
Marco Argenti, Goldman Sachs' Chief Information Officer, stated that the AI systems will significantly reduce the time required for these essential functions. "Claude is really good at coding," Argenti told CNBC, adding that the bank was surprised by the model's capability to handle complex, rules-based work beyond programming. The AI agents will parse large volumes of documents and apply judgment to tasks that combine data processing with rule application. Argenti indicated that while the technology will add capacity, it is too early to predict specific job losses, though the bank may reduce its reliance on third-party providers.
Concurrently, Anthropic is nearing the close of a monumental funding round exceeding $20 billion, which would value the company at approximately $350 billion. This figure nearly doubles the startup's valuation from just months prior. Major investors expected to contribute include Nvidia, Microsoft, Coatue Management, Singapore's GIC, and Iconiq Capital, with some individual checks surpassing $1 billion. The funding underscores the immense capital required to build advanced AI and reflects intense investor appetite for leading AI firms.
The competitive landscape for consumer AI was also highlighted during the 2026 Super Bowl, where Anthropic aired a commercial for its Claude chatbot. The ad took a direct jab at rival OpenAI, promising that ads would not appear in Claude, which it labeled an "exploitative" practice. This prompted a public response from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who defended his company's stance on advertising. The event showcased how AI is moving from a backend tool to a mainstream cultural and commercial focal point, with other brands like Svedka Vodka also premiering AI-generated commercials.
