Elon Musk Suggests Anthropic Has “FTX Energy” Amid AI Rivalry. Source: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr(CC BY 4.0)

Elon Musk has sparked fresh controversy after endorsing a theory that compares leading AI company Anthropic to the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The Tesla and xAI founder agreed with claims circulating on X that Anthropic and its CEO, Dario Amodei, give off “Sam Bankman-Fried vibes,” referencing the disgraced FTX founder.

The debate began when tech commentator Lukas (@hyperonline) shared a detailed thread explaining why Anthropic’s corporate image feels unsettling despite the company’s strong AI models. According to Lukas, the artificial intelligence startup projects what he described as “FTX energy,” drawing parallels between Anthropic’s branding strategy and the public persona once cultivated by Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire.

Both FTX and Anthropic were influenced by the philosophy of effective altruism (EA), a movement that played a major role in shaping Bankman-Fried’s worldview. Critics argue that both companies emphasize being the “responsible” and ethically driven players in their industries. Lukas pointed to Anthropic’s polished branding, “genius nerd” founders, and heavy focus on AI safety as reminiscent of FTX’s trust-building tactics before its dramatic collapse.

Adding to the controversy, Bankman-Fried was an early investor in Anthropic, committing $500 million to the AI startup in 2022. It was later revealed that these funds were misappropriated from FTX customers, further fueling skepticism among critics who question the optics of the investment.

Musk’s comments come as competition in the artificial intelligence sector intensifies. As the founder of xAI and creator of the Grok language model, Musk is directly competing with Anthropic and its Claude AI platform in the fast-growing AI arms race.

Despite the criticism, Anthropic continues to attract high-profile supporters. Pop star Katy Perry recently revealed she purchased a $214.99 annual subscription to Claude Pro, signaling continued mainstream interest in the company’s AI products.

The unfolding debate highlights rising tensions in the AI industry, where reputation, funding transparency, and ethical positioning are increasingly under scrutiny.