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A promising Seattle startup joins forces with Anthropic as the race to build smarter AI assistants heats up
The race to build smarter artificial intelligence is moving fast, and companies are constantly looking for new ideas and talent to stay ahead. In a recent move that shows how competitive the AI space has become, Anthropic has acquired Seattle based startup Vercept.
The deal brings Vercept’s technology and part of its team into Anthropic. While the financial details have not been shared publicly, the acquisition highlights how valuable innovative AI startups have become.
A Push Toward More Capable AI Assistants
Anthropic says the main goal of the acquisition is to strengthen its work on AI systems that can interact with computers and software the way people do.
If you have ever wished an AI assistant could open apps, manage spreadsheets, or organize your files automatically, that is exactly the kind of technology companies are trying to build right now.
Vercept has spent years working on this idea. The startup focused on developing AI agents that can understand what is happening on a computer screen and then perform actions based on simple instructions.
Anthropic believes this technology can help improve the abilities of its AI assistant Claude, especially when it comes to completing multi step tasks across different software tools.
What Happens to Vercept’s Product
Vercept created a desktop application called Vy. The software allowed users to automate everyday digital tasks using natural language commands.
For example, a user could tell the system to organize files, handle repetitive data entry, or perform other routine work on a computer.
However, the company has announced that Vy will shut down within about 30 days as the transition to Anthropic takes place. Users were encouraged to explore Anthropic’s Claude tools as an alternative.
A Team With Strong AI Background
One reason Vercept attracted attention is the experience behind its founding team. The company was started by researchers connected to the Allen Institute for AI.
The founders include Kiana Ehsani, Luca Weihs, and Ross Girshick. All three have deep experience in artificial intelligence research and development.
In a message shared with users, the founders explained that joining Anthropic allows them to continue their mission on a larger stage. They said their goal has always been to explore how AI can work alongside humans in everyday computing tasks.
Backed by Well Known Tech Investors
Even though Vercept was a young startup, it quickly gained strong support from investors.
In early 2025, the company raised 16 million dollars in a seed funding round that valued the startup at about 67 million dollars. The round was led by venture firm Fifty Years, with participation from Point Nine Capital and the AI2 Incubator.
Several well known figures from the tech world also invested in the company, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Google DeepMind scientist Jeff Dean.
Despite that attention, Vercept remained a relatively small team with about 20 employees.
The Growing Battle Over AI Agents
Vercept was operating in one of the most exciting and competitive areas of artificial intelligence. Many companies are now trying to build AI systems that can take real actions on computers instead of simply responding to prompts.
Major tech companies like OpenAI, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are all working on similar technologies.
By bringing Vercept into the company, Anthropic gains not only useful technology but also a team that has spent years thinking about the future of AI driven computing.
For the AI industry, this acquisition is another sign that the battle to build the next generation of digital assistants is only getting started.
