Claude Fable 5 Release, DuckDuckGo Surge, and Global AI Shifts
Anthropic has released its Mythos-class model, Claude Fable 5, while DuckDuckGo sees a surge in installs following Google's AI search overhaul. Other developments include new AI research from Perplexity, Microsoft's Copilot super app plans, and significant funding news for Anthropic.
Podcast В· 3 min
Anthropic releases Claude Fable 5
Anthropic has officially released Claude Fable 5, making its top-tier Mythos-class model available to the public. This release follows months of restricted testing under Project Glasswing, where the model was limited to vetted partners. Fable 5 serves as a more accessible, though slightly restricted, version of the powerful Mythos architecture, with specific routing for sensitive topics like cybersecurity and biology to the Opus 4.8 model. Performance benchmarks indicate that Fable 5 outperforms both Opus 4.8 and GPT 5.5 across coding, reasoning, and knowledge work tasks. While the model is currently available to all Claude subscribers, Anthropic has announced a transition to a usage-based credit system starting June 22. This release marks a significant milestone in Anthropic's strategy to balance high-performance capabilities with safety guardrails.
Perplexity study maps AI agent impact on knowledge work
A new study conducted by Perplexity and Harvard Business School has analyzed the shift in knowledge work driven by AI agents. By comparing 10,000 identical queries across Perplexity’s Computer platform and traditional search, researchers found that while search is faster for simple lookups, AI agents significantly outperform in complex, creative tasks. The data shows that users of the agentic platform were twice as likely to request the creation of new content—such as code, documents, and visuals—compared to search users. Furthermore, the study highlights that agentic workflows encourage users to tackle tasks outside their primary field of expertise, suggesting that AI agents are not just increasing efficiency but also enabling higher-level, cross-disciplinary work.
DuckDuckGo installs surge following Google's AI search overhaul
DuckDuckGo has reported a significant spike in user adoption, with US app installs increasing by an average of 18% week-over-week, peaking at 30% growth following Google's recent AI search integration. This trend reflects a growing segment of users who are actively seeking alternatives to Google's new AI-generated search results. Data indicates that iPhone installs saw even higher growth, peaking at nearly 70% in a single day. Traffic to DuckDuckGo's 'no-AI' search page also rose by 22.7% during the same period. While Google maintains a dominant market share, these figures highlight a notable, albeit small, pushback from users who prefer traditional search interfaces over the conversational, AI-first approach currently being prioritized by major tech incumbents.
Anthropic reports $65B funding round
Anthropic has reportedly closed a $65 billion funding round, bringing its valuation to $965 billion. This development positions the company as the most valuable private AI firm globally, surpassing OpenAI's $852 billion valuation. The company's annualized revenue is currently on track to exceed $45 billion, representing a five-fold increase from the $9 billion reported at the end of 2024.
Microsoft developing Copilot super app
Microsoft is reportedly developing a new 'super app' for its Copilot ecosystem, aiming to consolidate GitHub Copilot, Copilot Chat, and a new agentic feature called Autopilot into a single interface. The company is targeting a summer launch for this unified platform. Currently, adoption of Copilot features among Microsoft's 450 million Microsoft 365 customers remains low, with fewer than 4.5% subscribing to existing tools. The move to a centralized super app is seen as a strategic effort to streamline the user experience and drive higher engagement across the enterprise customer base.