Anthropic CEO Meets PM Modi, Announces Major India Expansion
Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, is expanding to India with a new Bengaluru office in 2026 following a high-level meeting between CEO Dario Amodei and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move comes as usage of Claude Code in India has surged fivefold since June.
Key Takeaways
- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met PM Modi to discuss India expansion
- Claude Code usage in India has grown 5x since June 2024
- Bengaluru office to open in 2026, marking Anthropic’s first physical presence in India
- India becomes key battleground for global AI companies including OpenAI and Google
Strategic Meeting Between AI Leader and PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei about the company’s India expansion plans and AI deployment across critical sectors. The meeting occurred shortly after Anthropic revealed its decision to establish its first Indian office in Bengaluru.
India’s Crucial Role in Global AI Future
Following the meeting, Amodei emphasized India’s significance in the AI landscape. He stated on X: “Today I met with PM Modi to discuss Anthropic’s expansion to India, where Claude Code use is up by 5x since June. How India deploys AI across critical sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture for over a billion people will be essential in shaping the future of AI.”
PM Modi’s Vision for Responsible AI
Prime Minister Modi responded by highlighting India’s human-centric approach to AI innovation. He wrote: “Glad to meet you. India’s vibrant tech ecosystem and talented youth are driving AI innovation that is human-centric and responsible,” adding that he looked “forward to working together to harness AI for growth across key sectors.”
Bengaluru Office and Expansion Plans
Backed by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, Anthropic will open its Bengaluru office in 2026. The company plans to collaborate with Indian developers, researchers, and enterprises while scaling its Claude and Claude Code products to meet India’s rapidly growing AI demand.
India Emerges as AI Battleground
With over one billion internet users and a thriving startup ecosystem, India has become the next major frontier for global AI competition. Anthropic’s entry follows OpenAI’s registration in India earlier this year, with plans for a New Delhi office. Both companies will compete with Google’s Gemini and AI startup Perplexity in capturing India’s expanding user base.
