OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs Avoid Handshake at India Tech Summit

Viral moment highlights rivalry between two prominent AI companies

Feb. 27, 2026 at 1:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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At a tech summit in India, the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, avoided clasping each other's hands in a viral moment that highlighted the rivalry between the two prominent artificial intelligence companies.

Why it matters

The frosty interaction between the two former coworkers underscores the intense competition in the rapidly evolving AI industry, where companies are racing to develop the most advanced and influential technologies.

The details

During a panel discussion at the India tech summit, Altman and Amodei, who previously worked together at OpenAI, were seen on stage avoiding a handshake, creating an awkward moment that quickly went viral on social media. Altman later said he was "confused" by the interaction, suggesting the two CEOs may have had a falling out or disagreement.

  • The incident occurred on February 20, 2026 during a tech summit in India.

The players

Sam Altman

The CEO of OpenAI, a prominent artificial intelligence research company.

Dario Amodei

The CEO of Anthropic, an AI company that is a rival to OpenAI.

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What they’re saying

“I was confused by that too.”

— Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI (sfchronicle.com)

The takeaway

The frosty interaction between the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic highlights the intense rivalry and competition in the rapidly evolving AI industry, where companies are racing to develop the most advanced and influential technologies.