On Thursday, Elon Musk publicly changed his opinion about Anthropic, admitting he was "clearly wrong" about the AI company that he once criticized harshly. After months of disparaging comments, Musk has acknowledged Anthropic as the current leader in the AI industry, reflecting a significant shift in his public stance.
In a post on X, Musk stated, "I was clearly wrong about Anthropic. They are obviously currently the leader in AI." He specifically lauded the capabilities of Anthropic’s latest models, indicating that no other company has produced systems as advanced as those named Mythos and Fable. This positive recognition came with a prediction that the creators of Claude would soon roll out an enhanced version dubbed Mythos 2.
This turnaround from Musk is particularly notable considering the scathing remarks he made earlier this year, where he labeled Anthropic as a hypocritical entity, even branding its Claude models as "misanthropic and evil." Back in September 2025, Musk went as far as suggesting that success was improbable for Anthropic, implying an inevitable irony in their projects’ outcomes due to their design philosophy.
Despite his harsh words previously, Musk remarked that he wouldn't consider harming Anthropic’s prospects, stating, "That’s not my style," even amidst their competition. This pledge of restraint might reflect deeper underlying ties between Musk’s own ventures and Anthropic, especially given the current dynamics of the AI market.
Musk's change of heart comes at a time when his own AI project, SpaceXAI, is climbing the ranks, recently launching Grok 4.5, which he promoted as faster and cheaper than its competition. However, independent assessments placed Grok 4.5 as the top non-Anthropic model, with Anthropic's systems still leading the field overall. Reports indicated that Grok 4.5 secured a fourth-place ranking on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, lagging only behind three of Anthropic's models, further underscoring the intense competition.
The timing of Musk’s remarks raises questions about strategic positioning in an industry where advancements can come rapidly. His recognition of Anthropic’s achievements may also hint at a more collaborative approach moving forward, rather than overt rivalry. As both companies push the boundaries of AI technology, staying ahead in the innovation game will be crucial.
This article serves to inform readers about recent developments in the AI sector and does not constitute financial advice.
