Netflix’s founder and former CEO Reed Hastings is joining the board of directors of the artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, the creator of the popular Claude large language models.
Hastings was appointed by the Long Term Benefit Trust, which has the right to appoint some of Anthropic’s board.
“The Long Term Benefit Trust appointed Reed because his impressive leadership experience, deep philanthropic work, and commitment to addressing AI’s societal challenges makes him uniquely qualified to guide Anthropic at this critical juncture in AI development” said Buddy Shah, chair of Anthropic’s Long Term Benefit Trust, in a statement.
Hastings, of course, is a giant of the entertainment business, having founded and led Netflix from its days as a DVD by mail company to a Hollywood powerhouse that is the dominant player in streaming entertainment. He stepped aside as co-CEO in 2023, and as chairman of the company earlier this year.
He has also been laser-focused on the potential and risks of AI, donating $50 million to Bowdoin College earlier this year to establish the Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity, and will “ensure that students graduate well-prepared to lead in a world reshaped by AI.”
“Anthropic is very optimistic about the AI benefits for humanity, but is also very aware of the economic, social, and safety challenges,” Hastings said. “I’m joining Anthropic’s board because I believe in their approach to AI development, and to help humanity progress.”
“Reed understands that technology companies have a responsibility beyond just building products,” added Daniela Amodei, president of Anthropic. “His focus on the human impact of technology—whether at Netflix or through his global health and education initiatives—makes him an ideal addition to our board as we continue building AI that helps rather than harms.”
Anthropic is one of the largest companies in the AI space, with its Claude model widely used across the industry. It raised more than $6 billion from Amazon last year.
Hastings has also used his post-Netflix time at the ski resort Powder Mountain, where he also serves as CEO.
