# Thinking Machines Challenges Anthropic's Intellectual Vibe With its new open-weight model Inkling, the focus shifts to customization. - **Source:** [Fast Company](https://www.fastcompany.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-19 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/97ac56bf-11ce-4d10-87b8-ce7a74014f73 ## A New Competitive Arena Thinking Machines is adopting a different strategy in the AI world with its new open-weight model, Inkling. The company aims to offer customizable solutions tailored to users' needs rather than raw power. This approach signifies direct competition with existing players in the industry. ## Anthropic's Positioning Anthropic has successfully built an intellectual and creative image as an AI platform. Through ads, influencer partnerships, and blog posts, the company has strengthened this position, appealing to a specific audience. Thinking Machines' moves seem poised to test this positioning. ## Emphasis on Customization The Inkling model allows users to train the model based on their own datasets and needs. This could be an attractive feature for companies in specific industries. Thinking Machines aims to differentiate itself and gain market share with this capability. ## The Importance of Intellectual Image Anthropic's intellectual image is a significant draw for users in academic and creative sectors. Thinking Machines' customization-focused approach, on the other hand, targets a more practical and business-oriented audience. This difference between the two strategies could increase diversity in the sector. ## Market Dynamics Competition among AI platforms is shaped not only by technological capabilities but also by brand positioning. Thinking Machines' Inkling model could alter these dynamics and redefine user expectations. This might mark the beginning of a new era in the industry. ## Future Scenarios The competition between Thinking Machines and Anthropic offers important clues about the future of the AI sector. The proliferation of customization-focused models could mean users gain more control. This, in turn, could accelerate the pace of innovation in the industry. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.fastcompany.com/91575110/thinking-machines-is-coming-for-anthropics-intellectual-vibe — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._