Anthropic is now valued at $183 billion

PLUS: How to access top AI models without paying for API keys

Author

Alvaro Cintas
September 03, 2025

Good morning, AI enthusiasts. Anthropic just pulled off one of the biggest funding rounds in AI history, rocketing its valuation to $183 billion.

PLUS: How to access top AI models without paying for API keys

HOW TO AI

How to access top AI models without paying for API keys

You can now access AI models like Gemini, DeepSeek, and Whisper for free. Unlike other tools, these platforms give you full access, ready to run, so you can create, experiment, and save hundreds without spending a dime.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how to get started and unlock each tool step by step.

🧰 Who is this for

  • AI developers experimenting with multiple models without extra cost

  • Startups and hobbyists building AI applications on a budget

  • Researchers and students needing access to advanced AI model

  • Anyone who wants to test and explore AI models without paying

1. Google AI Studio – Access Gemini 2.5

Head over to Google AI Studio and log in with your Google account. Once you’re in, locate the left sidebar and scroll down to find the button that says, “Get API Key.”

Click it, and it will open the API key page.

On the top-right corner, click “Create API Key.” Give your key a name, such as “Gemini 2.5 Free Key,” and then click “Create.”

Copy the generated key and save it securely. You can now use this key to access Google’s models, including Gemini 2.5.

Make sure to select the free tier when prompted to avoid any charges.

2. OpenRouter – Access DeepSeek R1, Qwen 3, and More

Go to OpenRouter and create a free account.

Once logged in, navigate to the DeepSeek R1 0528 Qwen3 8B free page. Click “API” and then “Create API Key” to generate your free key.

Once generated, you can now use this key to make API calls to various models, including DeepSeek R1 and Qwen 3.

3. Groq – Access LLaMA, Mistral, Whisper, and DeepSeek

Visit Groq and sign up for a free account. Once in, you will land on the dashboard. Click on Playground in the navigation menu to start experimenting with models immediately.

To access programmatically, click on API Reference in the top menu. There you will find detailed instructions for creating requests to models like LLaMA, Mistral, Whisper, and DeepSeek.

To generate an API key, select “API Key” from navigation bar, and then click “Create API Key”. Copy your API key and use it in your requests according to the documentation.

In the Playground, you can test prompts interactively and see instant responses from these models.

TODAY IN AI

Anthropic, the AI startup behind Claude and a top OpenAI rival, has raised $13 billion in a Series F round, giving it a staggering $183 billion valuation. The company’s revenue run-rate has soared from $1B to $5B in under nine months, fueled by strong enterprise adoption.

→ Serving 300,000+ business customers

→ Large enterprise accounts grew 7x in the past year

→ Claude Code alone hit $500M in run-rate revenue since launch

→ Backed by ICONIQ, Fidelity, Lightspeed, Blackstone, QIA, and more

Why is important: Anthropic’s explosive growth cements it as the strongest challenger to OpenAI, proving that multiple AI giants can coexist. With billions in new funding, it’s poised to expand globally, double down on safety research, and push enterprise AI into a new era.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff revealed that the company has cut around 4,000 customer support jobs this year due to the deployment of its AI-powered Agentforce platform, which now manages half of all customer interactions. The remaining staff focus on complex tasks, enabling Salesforce to respond to 100 million previously unaddressed leads.

→ Agentforce automates a growing share of customer service tasks

→ Human agents now focus on complex interactions AI cannot handle

→ Hundreds of employees successfully redeployed to other roles

Why is important: Salesforce’s shift shows how AI is transforming enterprise operations, reducing repetitive support roles while creating opportunities in higher-value areas, highlighting both efficiency gains and workforce reshaping.

ESSENTIAL BITES

  • A Harvard study found that companies adopting AI have cut junior hiring by 22% since 2023, with wholesale and retail roles plunging 40% per quarter, hitting mid-tier graduates the hardest while senior roles kept growing.

  • Microsoft will offer Microsoft 365 Copilot for free to U.S. government agencies under a new agreement with the General Services Administration, alongside Azure, Dynamics 365, and security platforms.

  • OpenAI is acquiring product testing startup Statsig for $1.1B in an all-stock deal; Statsig provides tools to test and manage software features for clients including OpenAI, Eventbrite, and SoundCloud.

  • Nvidia revealed that just two direct customers accounted for 39% of its $46.7B revenue in Q2, with one contributing 23% and the other 16%, highlighting revenue concentration concerns.

⚙️ Hot AI Tools:

That's it! See you tomorrow

- Dr. Alvaro Cintas