AI Summit Awkwardness as Rivals Altman and Amodei Avoid Contact

Tensions between OpenAI and Anthropic on display during Modi's AI event in India

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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At an AI summit hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a tense moment occurred between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei when Modi asked the tech leaders to join hands on stage. Altman and Amodei, whose companies are rivals in the AI space, awkwardly avoided physical contact, highlighting the deep rivalries in the industry.

Why it matters

The interaction between Altman and Amodei symbolizes the fierce competition and tensions within the AI industry, particularly between OpenAI and Anthropic. As the race to develop advanced AI technologies heats up, the rivalry between these two prominent firms has spilled over into public view.

The details

During the India AI Impact Summit, Modi invited the tech leaders to join hands on stage. While the other executives complied, Altman and Amodei, who stood next to each other, awkwardly avoided making physical contact, with both eventually putting up their fists instead. The moment quickly went viral on social media, becoming a visual representation of the deep rivalries in the AI industry. Altman and Amodei have a history, with Amodei previously working at OpenAI before leaving to co-found Anthropic in 2021. The two companies have taken different approaches to the commercialization of their AI products, leading to public debates and criticism.

  • The India AI Impact Summit took place on February 19, 2026.
  • OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022, revealing the commercial potential of large language models.
  • Anthropic launched its chatbot Claude in 2023, competing with ChatGPT.

The players

Narendra Modi

The Prime Minister of India, who hosted the AI summit.

Sam Altman

The CEO of OpenAI, a prominent AI company that developed the popular ChatGPT chatbot.

Dario Amodei

The CEO of Anthropic, an AI company that developed the chatbot Claude, which competes with ChatGPT.

Sundar Pichai

The CEO of Google, who was also present at the AI summit.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't know what was happening. I was confused, like when (Modi) grabbed my hand and put it up, and I just wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing.”

— Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI (Moneycontrol)

What’s next

The rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic is expected to continue as both companies race to develop more advanced AI technologies. The public tensions between the two firms may also lead to further debates and scrutiny of their approaches to AI development and commercialization.

The takeaway

The awkward interaction between Altman and Amodei at the India AI Impact Summit highlights the intense competition and rivalries within the AI industry. As the race to develop powerful AI technologies heats up, the tensions between prominent players like OpenAI and Anthropic are likely to continue, with the public debate over their differing strategies and approaches becoming an ongoing part of the narrative.