Ben Bernanke, the man who steered the US economy through its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, has a new job: keeping an eye on one of the most powerful AI companies in the world.
Anthropic announced on July 9, 2026, that Bernanke had been appointed to its Long-Term Benefit Trust, the independent oversight body the company uses to hold itself accountable to its public-benefit mission.
What the Long-Term Benefit Trust actually does
Trustees hold no equity in Anthropic. They are compensated only for their time, which removes the financial incentive to look the other way when things get uncomfortable.
The LTBT also has real authority. It advises Anthropic’s leadership on major decisions and holds the power to recommend appointments to the board itself.
