SAN FRANCISCO — Artificial intelligence powerhouse Anthropic is laying the groundwork for a historic initial public offering, positioning early backers and executives to offload shares in what could become a record-breaking market debut.

The move highlights surging Wall Street enthusiasm for generative AI, following massive private funding rounds that propelled the company’s valuation to unprecedented heights.

Market analysts suggest the landmark listing could redefine tech valuations and ignite a fresh wave of offerings across the sector.