Anthropic, a leading US-based Generative AI company, is significantly expanding its presence in Europe by creating over 100 new positions in engineering, research, sales, and business operations. This strategic move comes as Europe faces a critical shortage of AI specialists, leading to intense competition for talent among startups, established tech firms, and US Big Tech companies expanding into the region. Anthropic’s expansion, driven by the strong adoption of its Claude chatbot, aims to secure access to Europe’s skilled AI workforce and solidify its position in the European market.
Anthropic, a prominent player in the US Generative AI landscape, has announced a major recruitment initiative across Europe, a region currently grappling with a severe shortage of AI talent. This scarcity is fueling fierce competition among various players, ranging from burgeoning startups to established European companies and the expanding presence of US tech giants.
The company, renowned for its development of the Claude chatbot, unveiled plans to establish over 100 new roles encompassing engineering, research, sales, and business operations throughout the continent. A substantial portion of these positions will be concentrated in Anthropic’s offices located in London and Dublin, with additional roles planned for its Zurich-based research hub established in 2021.
This strategic decision reflects the increasing urgency for companies to secure top-tier AI talent, prompting them to adopt innovative recruitment approaches to overcome the talent gap. Daniela Amodei, president and co-founder of Anthropic, emphasized the importance of the European market, stating, “We’ve long planned to deepen our investment in Europe. The rapid organic growth amongst businesses and consumers since launching Claude in Europe last year has underscored the region’s strategic importance to Anthropic’s future.”
To guide this expansion, Anthropic has appointed Guillaume Princen, formerly with Stripe, as the Head of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The heightened competition for AI expertise is a direct result of the surge in investment in AI technologies, with global AI companies raising a record $110 billion in 2024, a 33% increase compared to the preceding two years, as reported by Dealroom.
European startups are particularly challenged by the allure of opportunities offered by well-funded US Big Tech companies, many of which have recently established a foothold in the region. For example, OpenAI’s plans to open a new office in Munich have sparked concerns among German startups who fear an exacerbation of the talent shortage. This expansion by Big Tech, exemplified by Microsoft’s new London office and Anthropic’s Zurich presence, is intensifying the competition. Further illustrating this trend is the recent move of a co-founder from the French AI startup H Company to Meta.
In response, European AI companies such as ElevenLabs, Synthesia, and Nscale are redoubling their efforts to attract leading researchers from prominent European institutions. Their strategies include upskilling existing engineers, strengthening partnerships with research institutions, and even leveraging AI agents to address the talent shortfall. As Dan Bathurst, chief product officer at AI data centre startup Nscale, aptly commented, “AI talent has never been in higher demand, and US Big Tech’s expansion into Europe has only heightened competition.”
Anthropic’s expansion in Europe underscores the growing importance of the region in the global AI landscape. The company’s investment, driven by the demand for its Claude chatbot and the availability of skilled AI professionals, reflects a broader trend of US companies seeking to tap into Europe’s talent pool. The intensified competition for AI talent necessitates innovative strategies from both startups and established players to secure their position in this rapidly evolving market.