Anthropic CEO Meets Modi to Discuss India AI Expansion Plans
When Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei sat down with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, the talk turned quickly to how the San-Francisco start-up might grow in India. It wasn’t just a courtesy visit - both sides seemed keen on figuring out a safe, useful path for AI here. Amodei hinted the firm wants to plug into India’s fast-moving tech scene, maybe by hiring local talent, teaming up with Indian companies, and weighing in on policy drafts.
That puts Anthropic head-to-head with the likes of OpenAI and Google, which are already courting the market. For New Delhi, chatting with a group that focuses on AI safety fits its public promise to push innovation while keeping risks in check. What’s still unclear is exactly how big the local operation will become, but investors are already watching.
If the plans materialise, they could shift who leads India’s AI race and shape the rules that will govern it for years.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the company’s plans for expanding its operations in India and advancing the development of safe and beneficial artificial intelligence (AI) in the country. According to Anthropic, the discussion centred on cultivating India’s AI innovation ecosystem and ensuring that AI development aligns with democratic values, serving diverse populations and industries, including healthcare, education, and agriculture. In a post on X, Amodei said, “Today I met with PM Narendra Modi to discuss Anthropic’s expansion to India — where Claude Code use is up 5× since June.” Prime Minister Modi has set an ambitious vision for India’s AI future, one that balances innovation with responsibility and ensures technology serves all of India’s people,” Amodei added.
“We’re grateful to everyone we’ve met this week — customers, partners, policymakers and researchers.” The meeting comes days after Anthropic announced plans to open its first India office in early 2026. The company said it will hire local teams and collaborate with startups and research institutions to support India’s growing AI ecosystem.
Meeting the prime minister felt like a clear signal that India wants to become a real AI hub, pulling in frontier labs as well as the usual big-tech players. For Anthropic, sitting down with Modi shows they see the Indian market as more than just a customer - the country’s huge talent pool and the chance to roll out AI in things like public services make it attractive. The talk comes at a time when countries are racing for AI lead and drafting rules at the same time.
India seems to be walking a line between pushing new tech and keeping safety and democratic values in mind, which might give other AI powers a different playbook to look at. Whether this will turn into solid partnerships that boost local capability and tackle specific needs in health or farming is still an open question. What’s clear is that a safety-first AI firm and a fast-growing economy are now sitting at the same table, each hoping the other can help meet its own goals.
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Common Questions Answered
What were the main topics of discussion between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
The meeting centered on Anthropic's expansion strategy in India and the broader pursuit of responsible AI development. They specifically discussed cultivating India's AI innovation ecosystem and ensuring AI development aligns with democratic values to serve diverse populations and industries.
Why is the Indian market considered strategically important for Anthropic's expansion plans?
India represents one of the world's largest and fastest-growing technology markets, offering a vast talent pool and significant potential for large-scale AI deployment across public services. Gaining direct access to the Prime Minister underscores the market's strategic importance for the San Francisco-based firm.
How does this meeting fit into India's broader strategy regarding artificial intelligence?
The high-level meeting is a significant step in India's strategy to position itself as a global AI hub by attracting leading frontier labs like Anthropic. This occurs as global competition for AI supremacy intensifies and nations craft regulatory frameworks to govern the technology.