Blackstone announced on Wednesday it has officially launched Ode, a new artificial intelligence services company that helps businesses use artificial intelligence, together with Anthropic and Hellman & Friedman (H&F). The firm combines Anthropic's AI models with engineers and AI experts from Fractional AI, which it acquired earlier this year. Ode's CEO Chris Taylor said many companies see AI's value, but "the challenge is making it real," adding that Ode works with businesses to carry out "the highest priority AI initiatives." Anthropic's Garvan Doyle said mid-sized companies need partners with "real implementation depth" as they add AI to daily operations. Ode is backed by several major investors such as Goldman Sachs, General Atlantic, Leonard Green & Partners, Apollo Global Management, GIC, and Sequoia Capital and plans to hire more engineers, operators and product leaders.