Anthropic’s Claude Code Dominates HumanX — but execs warn China may be pulling ahead on open‑weight models

Anthropic stole the stage

If there was a kingmaker at HumanX in San Francisco, it had to be Claude Code. It has been reported that Anthropic’s coding agent was the topic on everyone’s lips among 6,500 executives, founders and investors — so much so that one CEO said the “Claude Mania” feels like a religion. The company’s rise has been dramatic; it has been reported that Anthropic is valued at $380 billion and that Claude Code was generating more than $2.5 billion in annualized revenue as of February. Fast talk? Sure. Unstoppable momentum? Also the vibe.

Enterprise first, agents everywhere

Anthropic’s early enterprise traction shows in real behavior, not just hype. CEOs and founders described Claude as a sticky, mission‑critical tool that’s reshaping hiring, team size and workflow — one founder said projects that once needed four engineers now need two. It has been reported that Anthropic recently previewed Claude Mythos, a model with advanced cybersecurity chops, to roughly 50 companies, and the product focus — “we’ll solve code gen” — was repeatedly praised as disciplined and strategic. But investors also sounded a cautionary note: this market is young, tastes shift fast, and today’s religion can be tomorrow’s morning-after regret.

Governance, competition, and a geopolitical curveball

Regulatory drama followed Anthropic to the show. It has been reported that the Department of Defense blacklisted Claude after a public spat that landed in court, yet opposing rulings mean Anthropic can still work with some federal agencies while cases continue. Meanwhile, concerns about safety, governance and customer communications were a constant undercurrent — “overcommunicate,” advised one AI governance CEO. And here’s the kicker: some attendees alleged that China is taking the lead on open‑weight models, a reminder that the race is global, not just Silicon Valley theater. Who wins? Not obvious. But the emotional beat from HumanX was clear — a sense of urgency, and the feeling that the field has just widened.

Sources: cnbc.com