NEW DELHI – India is reportedly intensifying its push for sovereign AI infrastructure, urging major artificial intelligence developers like Anthropic to host their advanced models within the country's borders. This directive comes amid growing national security and data protection concerns, particularly amplified by discussions surrounding Anthropic's Claude Mythos AI model.
Government Seeks Local AI Hosting
The Indian government has expressed apprehension that foreign-hosted AI infrastructure could pose significant risks to national security, compromise data protection protocols, complicate compliance with local regulations, and challenge legal jurisdiction over sensitive information. Consequently, officials are now advocating for AI models, especially those used in critical sectors, to be housed on Indian soil or on government-approved secure cloud platforms.
High-Level Meetings Underway
Sources indicate that Anthropic's India team has engaged in virtual meetings with key government stakeholders, including officials from the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). These discussions have centered on access to the Claude Mythos AI model, its potential cybersecurity threats, and Anthropic's overall AI security and safety capabilities.
A government official reportedly described these interactions as “exploratory interactions to understand the maturity of the model, the scale of the threat being claimed and the safeguards required.” Initially, there was an assessment to determine if the claims surrounding Mythos represented a genuine technological leap or were exaggerated.
Shift to Sovereign Concerns
The dialogue has evolved beyond mere cybersecurity concerns, now encompassing broader questions of national sovereignty over critical technological infrastructure. This shift highlights India's strategic intent to bolster its control over powerful AI systems deployed across vital sectors such as banking, telecommunications, and other essential services.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has also joined the initiative, reportedly instructing telecom operators to evaluate potential risks posed by advanced AI models and to assess their preparedness to manage such threats. This comprehensive approach underscores India's commitment to fortifying its digital defenses and ensuring technological autonomy in the rapidly advancing AI landscape.