Anthropic’s AI takeover? Indian-origin CFO Krishna Rao says Claude now handles 90% of coding work

At Anthropic, a major player in the AI landscape, significant changes are underway as artificial intelligence takes on a predominant role in coding tasks. CFO Krishna Rao revealed that over 90% of the company's coding is now executed through Claude Code, their innovative AI coding assistant. This shift highlights a pivotal transformation in the nature of white-collar jobs, transitioning from execution-focused roles to those centered around AI oversight. In a recent appearance on Patrick O’Shaughnessy’s podcast, "Invest Like the Best," Rao discussed the implications of this rapid evolution. He noted that employees are increasingly tasked with strategic decision-making and oversight, while AI systems streamline software engineering, financial reporting, and operational workflows. "We’ve hired a lot more people because of that," Rao explained, attributing productivity enhancements to AI integration. "That actually means that we can get a lot more done." This development is particularly significant amid ongoing debates about the future of AI in the workforce. Anthropic's internal practices provide a clear example of how leading AI firms are restructuring their operations around AI capabilities. Rao highlighted that the finance team relies heavily on Claude, with AI now generating financial statements and preparing monthly reviews that are nearly complete before human involvement. "What used to take hours to produce now comes down to 30 minutes," he stated, emphasizing the efficiency gained through AI. As employees shift from data gathering to interpreting AI-generated insights, Rao noted that the workplace dynamic is changing. "Everyone kind of becomes a manager," he said, pointing to the incredible potential for productivity gains as this trend continues. Anthropic, valued at approximately $90 billion, is also eyeing a public listing, showcasing its position as a leader in AI innovation. Rao also addressed the importance of computing infrastructure, describing it as the "lifeblood" of Anthropic's operations. The company has secured substantial infrastructure contracts with tech giants like Google and Broadcom for TPU deployments starting in 2027, as well as a deal with Amazon for Trainium chips, totaling over $100 billion in commitments. Rao spends a significant portion of his time on compute-related decisions, underscoring its strategic importance. While optimistic about AI's potential in sectors like healthcare and productivity, Rao urged caution regarding the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements. "I don’t think we should just tell everyone everything is going to be great because there are likely to be bumps on the road," he warned, highlighting the need for mindful progress in AI development.