Anthropic to Open India Office, Apple Signals More Announcements, and AI Ethics Concerns Mount

Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei is visiting India this week to establish a new office in Bengaluru and explore a strategic partnership with Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move underscores Anthropic’s growing focus on India, the world’s second-largest internet market with over a billion users. The company has already seen strong adoption of its Claude AI assistant in the region, with India ranking second in traffic to Claude’s website after the U.S. and recording a 48% year-over-year increase in app downloads in September. Consumer spending on the app surged 572% in India that month, reaching $195,000—though still modest compared to the U.S., where spending hit $2.5 million. Amodei’s trip includes meetings with Reliance executives, including Ambani, and high-level government officials in New Delhi, with potential talks involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reliance has been actively expanding its AI ambitions through its new unit, Reliance Intelligence, which recently partnered with Google and Meta. While a collaboration with OpenAI was expected during Sam Altman’s postponed visit, Anthropic is now positioning itself as a key player in India’s AI ecosystem. Unlike OpenAI’s focus on broader market and policy engagement, Anthropic plans to target developers and startups through its Bengaluru office, hosting sessions with top Indian venture firms like Accel and Lightspeed. India is also becoming a hub for AI innovation, with several local startups already integrating Claude into their products for both domestic and international clients. Meanwhile, competitors like Perplexity are also expanding in India, partnering with telecom giant Bharti Airtel to offer its Pro subscription to over 360 million users. Separately, Apple is preparing for a major October product launch, with rumors pointing to a new iPad Pro powered by an M5 chip and featuring a larger OLED display. The current M4 iPad Pro is reportedly selling out, signaling a transition. The new model may bring only incremental upgrades, but it will launch with iPadOS 26 and support for free tiling windows. Apple may also release a revised Vision Pro headset with an M5 chip, though likely without a weight reduction. A new Apple TV 4K with an A17 Pro chip and updated N1 wireless technology is also expected, possibly integrating Apple Intelligence features. Rumors suggest a refreshed HomePod mini with improved AI capabilities and a new chip, while AirTags could see enhanced range and anti-tampering features. On the personal front, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke has revealed his passion for motor racing, which he took up after visiting a track with friends. Despite not having a driver’s license for years after moving from Germany, he quickly fell in love with the sport, competing in events like the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Lütke values racing not for winning, but for self-improvement—measuring progress through lap times and refining his skills. He also applies this mindset to his work, using AI to boost efficiency and insisting teams justify hiring requests by proving AI can’t handle the task. Lütke maintains a disciplined personal routine, prioritizing eight hours of sleep and leaving work by 5:30 p.m. to pursue his hobbies. His approach reflects a broader trend among tech leaders like Sam Altman, who also embrace high-speed driving as both a pastime and a metaphor for precision and performance.