• Shares in Pearson, Experian and other European data companies fell sharply after Anthropic unveiled a new AI legal tool.
  • The startup says the software automates a range of professional services, raising questions about demand for some data and service providers.
  • Markets reacted quickly, signaling investor concern about disruption to revenue streams tied to professional services and data licensing.

What happened

Anthropic, a startup known for developing large‑language models, unveiled an AI product aimed at automating a range of professional services, including legal work. The announcement triggered a market reaction: shares in several European companies that supply data, learning products or services to professional markets — named by reports as Pearson, Experian and others — fell sharply as investors priced in potential disruption.

Why markets moved

The rapid drop in share prices reflects a basic investor fear: if AI can automate tasks historically done by lawyers, analysts and other professionals, demand for some adjacent services and datasets could weaken. Companies that rely on selling processed data, professional training, subscription services or workflow tools may see portions of those markets shrink or transform if customers adopt automated AI tools instead.

The announcement appears to have created short‑term uncertainty about future revenue profiles for firms exposed to professional services. Even when automation expands overall productivity, it can compress margins or shift value to the firms that control the AI platforms and proprietary models.

Industry implications

The move by Anthropic is a reminder that the economics of professional services are changing quickly. Key implications include:

  • Business models under pressure: Firms selling expertise, subscriptions or specialized data may need to rethink pricing, bundling and partnerships to remain competitive.
  • Data and licensing questions: Widespread adoption of AI tools raises new questions about the datasets those models rely on and the terms under which data is licensed or bought.
  • Strategic responses: Affected companies can pursue partnerships with AI providers, develop their own automation features, or focus on high‑value services that remain difficult to automate.

Reactions and next steps

So far the market reaction has been immediate but the long‑term picture is uncertain. Companies named in early reports will likely respond in one of three ways: outline plans to adapt their products, pursue collaborations with AI firms, or emphasize areas of their businesses that are less exposed to automation.

Investors and industry watchers will be looking for follow‑up announcements from the companies involved and more detail from Anthropic about the scope, pricing and intended customers for the legal AI product. Regulators, customers and professional bodies may also scrutinize claims about performance, accuracy and the impact on professional standards.

Why it matters

This episode highlights how a single product announcement from a high‑profile AI startup can ripple through public markets and prompt rapid reassessment of entire business models. For companies supplying data, training or services to professional markets, the choice will be to adapt quickly or risk losing ground to platform providers that bundle AI automation into everyday workflows.

Image Referance: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/03/anthropic-ai-legal-tool-shares-data-services-pearson