Anthropic Gains Competitive Edge With Acquisition of SDK Generator, Stainless
In Focus
- Stainless converts APIs into Software Development Kits (SDKs)
- SDKs support AI agent connection to systems, data and tools
- AI firms like Google and OpenAI rely on Stainless to connect AI agents to systems
Anthropic has acquired Stainless, the startup whose software is used by rival AI firms like Google and OpenAI. The Claude Code maker did not reveal the terms of the acquisition deal. However, previous reports have suggested the price could exceed $300 million. Developed by Alex Rattray, a former Stripe engineer, Stainless has previously been backed by Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital.
Why Is Anthropic Acquiring Stainless?
Stainless is the software that makes AI usable. It’s designed to convert APIs into Software Development Kits (SDKs) across different programming languages. The software also updates SDKs continually as the APIs change. By performing these roles, Stainless determines how effectively developers can link to systems, tools, and data.
The performance of AI agents is largely determined by the systems and data they access. This makes SDKs critical for scaling agentic products. Stainless is a foundational software because it converts API specifications into production-ready SDKs across languages such as TypeScript, Python, Java, and Go.
The acquisition comes days after the AI developer adopted a metered credit allotment model for third-party tools integrated into Claude plans. The company said fixed monthly credits included in Claude subscriptions will now focus on programmatic use, with credits varying across the different plans.
Why Is Anthropic’s Stainless Deal Strategic?
The AI industry is slowly shifting from models that respond to user queries to agents that can take action and complete tasks. AI agents have to connect to systems, tools, and data to take action. Increasingly, focus is shifting to the tools that embed these connections, which is where real power lies.
Anthropic has been working to build this layer. In 2024, the AI developer launched the Model Context Protocol and contributed to the Linux Foundation. These are tools that define how AI agents link to external systems. The latest Anthropic developer tools bring SDK generation capabilities into the AI firm.
It also lowers the company’s cost of linking AI agents to tools without weighing heavily on its context windows or engineering teams. The AI firm needs SDKs to link its own agents to different systems and data sources. Recently, Anthropic launched ten financial agentic tools designed to make Claude more useful to banks, insurance firms and other service providers.
What Does the Acquisition Mean to Anthropic Rivals?
Tech companies like Cloudflare, Google, OpenAI, Runway, and Cloudflare rely on Stainless AI SDKs to connect agents to internal systems and data sources, without developing other tools internally. By acquiring Stainless, Anthropic is effectively locking its competitors out.
While the existing customers will be able to keep what they already generated, the engine that generates and maintains their SDKs will no longer be accessible to them. OpenAI’s experience reflects this clearly.
Initially, the AI developer developed SDK tools in-house. However, it shifted to Stainless due to the complexities involved in developing the tools in-house. This shift made Stainless a critical part of its workflow.
