October 8, 2025 : Anthropic, the U.S.-based artificial intelligence company behind the Claude chatbot, has announced plans to open its first office in India in early 2026. The new facility will be located in Bengaluru, the tech hub of India, and will serve as its second Asia-Pacific base after its upcoming office in Tokyo.
India has already emerged as a significant market for Anthropic. The company considers India its second-largest user base globally in terms of Claude usage. Despite the wide usage, Anthropic has not yet launched local currency pricing or established a physical presence in the country.
The decision to open an Indian office reflects several broader trends and strategic motivations. First, India offers a rich talent pool in AI, software engineering, and data science. Bengaluru, in particular, is well known for its technology ecosystem and startup culture. Second, as AI adoption accelerates in Indian enterprises, having a local presence helps with better service delivery, product localization, regulatory engagement, and market responsiveness.
Beyond office presence, Anthropic has also said that it plans to expand its India operations by investing in Indic-language AI models to better serve India’s linguistic diversity. This move could address one of the key gaps in AI adoption in India—models and tools that understand and generate content in local languages.
The India office is expected to support multiple functions over time: product development, research, partnership programs, sales, and local operations. It may also play an important role in integrating feedback from Indian customers and tailoring Claude’s behavior or features to suit regional needs. Analysts expect that with a local presence, the company could accelerate rollout of features like pricing in Indian rupees, enterprise integration with Indian firms, or domain specialization for Indian sectors such as education, health, or government.
In terms of timing, the office is expected to be operational by early 2026. This gives Anthropic time to recruit local staff, set up infrastructure, and establish partnerships before fully scaling operations.
This expansion is part of a larger global growth strategy. Anthropic recently announced plans to triple its international workforce this year and to grow its applied AI teams fivefold, ensuring it can meet escalating global demand outside the U.S. The India move complements that ambition.
Competition in India’s AI market is intensifying. Global players like OpenAI, Google, and smaller startups are already competing for developer mindshare, client contracts, and public sector interest. OpenAI, for instance, is launching its first India office in New Delhi this year. By opening in India, Anthropic hopes to keep pace with rivals and not lose ground in one of its fastest-growing markets.
For India, the arrival of Anthropic holds several potential benefits. A local unit can spur job creation in AI research and engineering. It can help enhance India’s AI ecosystem through collaborations with academia, startups, and industry. And given Anthropic’s interest in Indic languages and local needs, it could lead to more inclusive AI solutions tailored to regional contexts.
However, with global AI expansion comes challenges. Anthropic will need to navigate Indian data protection laws, localization norms, compliance, and public trust in AI systems. Ensuring responsible AI use and alignment with Indian priorities will be important.
Overall, the plan to open in Bengaluru signals that India is no longer just a consumption market for global AI firms — it’s becoming part of their strategic center of operations. As AI continues to grow as a core driver of technology, Anthropic’s entry into India is likely to spark further competition, innovation, and investments in the Indian AI sector.
Summary
Anthropic plans to open its first India office in Bengaluru in early 2026. The move supports its global expansion and reflects the country’s growing importance in AI usage and talent.