What Is Anthropic’s AI Tool That Shook Global IT Stocks, Wiping Out ₹1.75 Lakh Crore Market Value ?

The launch of a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool by Anthropic has triggered a sharp fall in the shares of IT companies in India and across the world. Analysts have sounded a note of caution about this tool, describing it as so powerful that it can perform most of the tasks currently handled by software companies. It has been designed to manage entire business workflows end-to-end. With the arrival of Anthropic’s new workplace productivity and automation tools, investors are increasingly questioning whether traditional SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) platforms will continue to remain relevant. This tool is capable of independently handling a wide range of complex tasks. The upgraded system includes multiple automation plugins that are far more advanced than basic AI assistants.

Unlike conventional software that merely helps employees carry out tasks, these workplace automation tools allow AI to independently complete entire operational processes. This includes legal document review, compliance checks, sales planning, marketing campaign analysis, financial reconciliation, data visualization, SQL-based reporting, and enterprise-level document search. In simple terms, tasks that earlier required multiple software subscriptions can now be completed within a single AI-driven environment. This is expected to reduce companies’ dependence on traditional SaaS platforms, while AI workflow engines may increasingly take their place — a prospect that has heightened investor concerns. Following news of this tool, shares of major US software companies saw a steep decline on February 3. Stock prices fell by as much as 6%, wiping out nearly $285 billion in market value. Investors believe this tool could have a direct negative impact on the revenues of IT companies.

Market Capitalisation Takes a Major Hit:

After the launch of Anthropic’s workplace productivity tool and the growing threat from AI, shares of Indian IT majors such as Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Persistent Systems fell sharply, leading to a loss of ₹1.75 lakh crore in market capitalisation. Persistent Systems suffered the biggest decline. The total market value of Nifty IT index stocks dropped to around ₹30 lakh crore.