[bpavuk]

unlike Anthropic, iTunes and Starbucks are profitable.

suppose iTunes gets $1 from every $5 spent there. if Apple sold a $50 gift card, it can pocket $10 and not worry about it. Anthropic, OTOH, sells their API at loss, so unused credits mean losses that await to be materialized. it is unprofitable for them to let you keep the compute bucks forever.

[senko]

> Anthropic, OTOH, sells their API at loss,

Sources? It is widely believed that their fixed-price plans lose money, but last I heard API (price per token) had positive margins?

[Spooky23]

Maybe in some universe. Companies like this grow so fast you have no idea, and any prognostication about making money is just frankly bullshit.

Growth hides all sins, as long as the investors keep ponying up.