Anthropic, the artificial intelligence research firm behind the Claude AI model, has announced plans to open its first office in India, locating it in Bengaluru by early 2026. This expansion reflects the company's recognition of India's burgeoning AI ecosystem and the increasing demand for its AI tools.
The Bengaluru office will be Anthropic's second location in the Indo-Pacific region, following its upcoming opening in Tokyo. The company chose Bengaluru due to its wealth of engineering talent and concentration of startup and enterprise activity.
Anthropic's Co-founder and CEO, Dario Amodei, is currently visiting India to meet with government officials and corporate partners, underscoring the significance of this expansion. Amodei stated that India's technical talent and the government's dedication to ensuring AI benefits all of society make the country a compelling market. He also noted that Anthropic's commitment to responsible AI deployment aligns well with India's national AI objectives.
India has emerged as Anthropic's second-largest market for its Claude model, which competes with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Indian companies are seeking AI models that provide both high performance and reliability, and Claude is designed to meet these demands. Claude has gained recognition for its strong coding capabilities.
Anthropic plans to collaborate with Indian government agencies, nonprofits, and startups to apply AI in areas like education, healthcare, agriculture, and public health. These partnerships aim to support India's development priorities while promoting responsible AI practices.
The AI landscape in India is rapidly evolving, with increasing competition from local startups, homegrown foundational model developers, regulatory bodies, and policy frameworks. For Anthropic, establishing a local presence, demonstrating "safe and reliable" AI, and aligning with Indian government priorities will be crucial for competing effectively against OpenAI, Google, and other players.
Anthropic is valued at approximately $183 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable private AI firms. The company has raised over $20 billion since its founding in 2021, with backing from Amazon, Google, and various venture capital firms.
The opening of the Bengaluru office signifies Anthropic's strategic focus on influencing how AI is developed, governed, and used in India. As the battle for trust, localization, and enterprise adoption intensifies, Anthropic's commitment to the Indian market will likely determine its long-term success in the region. Microsoft-backed OpenAI formally registered as a legal entity in India in August and intends to open an office in New Delhi later in 2025.
