Artificial intelligence leader Anthropic is actively exploring a partnership with Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries to deepen its footprint in India, one of its fastest-growing markets outside the US. According to a TechCrunch report on October 7, 2025, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is scheduled to visit Mumbai to meet Ambani and senior Reliance executives, focusing on ways to integrate and distribute Anthropic’s Claude AI models through Reliance’s vast ecosystem, including Jio’s 500 million+ telecom subscribers. For AI developers, business strategists, and tech policy observers searching Anthropic Reliance partnership, Claude AI India expansion, or Dario Amodei Mukesh Ambani meeting 2025, these talks—ongoing for months—could mirror Perplexity’s deal with Airtel, offering free Claude Pro access to Jio users while leveraging Reliance’s infrastructure for AI solutions. Amodei’s itinerary also includes Bengaluru for the company’s first India office opening and New Delhi for meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials, underscoring Anthropic’s commitment to India’s developer ecosystem and AI infrastructure needs.
This development follows Reliance’s August 2025 launch of Reliance Intelligence, a new unit partnering with Google and Meta to build AI solutions, positioning the conglomerate as a key player in India’s $200 billion AI market by 2030.
Partnership Focus: Expanding Claude Access via Reliance’s Ecosystem
The potential collaboration centers on distributing Anthropic’s Claude AI models through Reliance’s platforms, leveraging Jio’s massive user base for broader adoption among developers and consumers. Discussions have been underway for several months, with a focus on:
- AI Integration: Embedding Claude into Jio apps and services for enterprise and consumer use cases like customer support and content creation.
- Infrastructure Support: Utilizing Reliance’s data centers and telecom network for Claude’s compute needs, similar to Google’s $3 billion investment in Jio AI.
- Developer Tools: Offering free or subsidized Claude Pro access to Jio’s developer community, mirroring Perplexity’s Airtel tie-up.
Sources familiar with the talks indicate a non-binding memorandum of understanding could be signed by year-end, potentially valuing the partnership at $500 million over three years. Anthropic’s India traffic—second only to the US—makes this a strategic fit, with Claude already powering several local AI startups.
| Aspect | Potential Collaboration | Strategic Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| AI Distribution | Claude in Jio Apps | 500M+ User Reach |
| Infrastructure | Reliance Data Centers | Scalable Compute |
| Developer Access | Free Claude Pro for Jio Devs | Ecosystem Growth |
Anthropic’s India Expansion: Bengaluru Office and Amodei’s Visit
Amodei’s trip, joined by EMEA head Guillaume Princen and startups chief Daniel Delaney, will culminate in the inauguration of Anthropic’s first India office in Bengaluru on October 10, 2025. The hub will focus on hiring local talent, hosting developer workshops, and showcasing Claude Sonnet 4.5 for coding and agentic apps.
- Market Potential: India’s AI market to reach $200 billion by 2030; Anthropic’s Claude traffic second to US.
- Competitive Landscape: Rivals OpenAI (New Delhi office by year-end) and Google (deep Jio ties) intensify the race.
- Government Engagement: Meetings with PM Modi to align on AI policy and infrastructure.
Amodei: “India’s developer community is unmatched; we’re committed to building here.”
Implications: A Powerhouse Alliance for AI in India
The partnership could accelerate Anthropic’s growth in India’s $200 billion AI market:
- Consumer Reach: Jio’s 500 million users gain easy Claude access.
- Enterprise Solutions: Reliance Intelligence integrates Claude for telecom and retail.
- Talent Pipeline: Bengaluru office taps India’s 1.5 million AI professionals.
Challenges include data localization and competition from Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s GPT.
Conclusion: Anthropic’s Reliance Bet on India
Anthropic’s exploration of a Reliance partnership during Amodei’s October 2025 visit signals a strategic alliance for Claude’s India expansion, alongside the Bengaluru office. As talks progress, it could redefine AI access for 500 million users. For India’s tech ecosystem, it’s a convergence—will Claude conquer? The models merge. Tech crunch
