Rivals on Stage: OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs Share Awkward Moment at India AI Impact Summit
As competition intensifies in the global AI race, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei’s subtle gesture sparks social media buzz and underscores a deepening industry divide
An otherwise celebratory moment at the India AI Impact Summit turned into a symbolic display of Silicon Valley rivalry, as Sam Altman and Dario Amodei opted not to hold hands during a group photo featuring some of the world’s most influential political and technology leaders.
The two AI chiefs stood on stage alongside Narendra Modi and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, following their keynote addresses at the high-profile summit. In a show of unity, Modi lifted the hands of Altman and Pichai before an applauding audience, prompting others on stage to follow suit.
However, when it came time for Altman and Amodei — positioned side by side — the two raised clenched fists instead of clasping hands, a small but telling gesture that quickly captured attention online.
A Rivalry Beyond Optics
The moment arrives amid intensifying competition between OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, and Anthropic, the company behind Claude. Both firms are racing to position their AI models as the global default for consumers and enterprises alike, while also competing aggressively for capital, partnerships, and market share.
In recent months, tensions have escalated publicly. Anthropic aired Super Bowl commercials that poked fun at OpenAI’s reported plans to test advertising for free users and ChatGPT Go subscribers in the United States.
Altman sharply criticized the ads, calling them “clearly dishonest,” adding that it was ironic for Anthropic to critique “theoretical deceptive ads that aren’t real” in a major broadcast campaign.
Anthropic’s chief customer officer, Paul Smith, later responded in an interview, suggesting the company was focused on sustainable growth rather than “flashy headlines” — remarks widely interpreted as a veiled swipe at OpenAI.
Speaking at the summit after the now-viral photo, Altman acknowledged that OpenAI was still refining its monetization strategy. “We still have some work to do to figure out the exact ad format that’s going to work best,” he told CNBC.
Social Media Weighs In
The image of the two CEOs declining to hold hands quickly made the rounds across social media platforms.
Siddharth Bhatia, cofounder of AI startup Puch AI, quipped on X: “When AGI? The day Dario and Sam hold hands.”
Meanwhile, investor Justine Moore of Andreessen Horowitz shared the photo with the caption: “When you’re forced to do a group project with your opp.”
What may have been a lighthearted moment on stage became a symbolic snapshot of one of the most closely watched rivalries in modern technology.
Philosophical Divides in AI Safety
The tension between the two companies extends beyond market positioning. Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers — including Amodei — has consistently branded itself as a “safety-first” alternative following internal disagreements over OpenAI’s direction.
During his address at the summit, Amodei highlighted what he described as the “serious risks” associated with advanced AI systems. He warned of autonomous behavior, potential misuse by individuals and governments, and the risk of economic displacement as AI capabilities accelerate.
Altman, for his part, emphasized a broader definition of AI safety, arguing that it must include “societal resilience.”
“We believe no AI lab can deliver a good future on their own,” he said, underscoring the need for industry-wide collaboration.
Billions at Stake
Both OpenAI and Anthropic have raised billions of dollars in funding as they compete for dominance in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. Their rivalry reflects a larger global race — one involving governments, corporations, and investors — to define the future of AI governance, safety, and commercial deployment.
While the raised fists at the India AI Impact Summit may have lasted only seconds, they served as a vivid reminder: in the race to shape artificial general intelligence, alliances may be temporary — but competition is unmistakably real.
