Anthropic has rightly focused on maximizing useful intelligence, which does not show up in benchmarks, but definitely shows up in revenue.
💡 Inside Track & Deep Insight
In a notable departure from his typical competitive stance, Elon Musk complimented Anthropic's approach to AI development, emphasizing their focus on 'useful intelligence' rather than benchmark performance. Musk's remarks suggest an evolving perspective on AI value creation, where practical utility and market adoption are increasingly prioritized over academic metrics. This aligns with a broader industry trend, as companies like Anthropic have reportedly seen revenue growth from products that excel in real-world applications, even if they lag on certain standardized tests.
The comment also underscores the intensifying rivalry among AI firms, where different strategies are being pursued: Anthropic prioritizing safety and usefulness, while others like OpenAI and xAI push performance boundaries. Musk's acknowledgment that 'even Q1 would be very impressive' indicates that he views Anthropic's early-stage results as significant, potentially reshaping investor expectations. This nuanced insight from Musk may influence how the market evaluates AI startups, shifting attention toward revenue generation and customer satisfaction as key indicators of success.
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On benchmarks, yes, but as measured by true usefulness even Q1 would be very impressive.
Anthropic has rightly focused on maximizing useful intelligence, which does not show up in benchmarks, but definitely shows up in revenue.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 18, 2026