Sam Altman, Dario Amodei Skip Unity Gesture at AI Summit Group Photo

An awkward moment at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi drew global attention when Sam Altman and Dario Amodei appeared reluctant to join a symbolic unity gesture during a group photo with Narendra Modi.

The incident took place at Bharat Mandapam when global leaders and technology executives gathered on stage. At the Prime Minister’s request, participants were asked to hold hands as a sign of cooperation and shared commitment to the future of artificial intelligence. While most complied, Altman and Amodei — standing next to each other — hesitated.

Instead of joining hands, the two raised their fists, breaking the symbolic chain and creating a moment that quickly went viral online. The visual captured the complexity of global AI politics and the competitive tensions shaping the industry.

Rivalry rooted in AI philosophy and strategy

The moment underscored the long-running rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic, two leading AI companies with differing visions for the future of artificial intelligence.

Amodei, a former OpenAI vice president, co-founded Anthropic after leaving the company over concerns that AI development was moving too quickly toward commercialisation without sufficient safety safeguards. Anthropic has since positioned itself as a company focused on safety-first AI development and responsible deployment.

OpenAI, led by Altman, has emphasised expanding access to AI technologies at scale. The company believes commercialisation and revenue generation are necessary to make AI affordable and widely available.

Recent tensions reflect intensifying competition

The rivalry intensified earlier this month when Anthropic aired a Super Bowl advertisement that appeared to mock the introduction of advertising in Chat-based AI platforms. Altman responded publicly, arguing that affordable AI requires scalable business models.

The competition also extends to product launches. Both companies recently unveiled advanced coding tools within minutes of each other — Anthropic releasing Claude Opus 4.6 and OpenAI introducing GPT-5.3 Codex — highlighting the rapid pace of innovation and competition in the sector.

AI cooperation remains complex despite shared platforms

The summit aimed to position India as a global hub for AI cooperation, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, and technology pioneers. However, the moment between Altman and Amodei illustrated that collaboration in the AI era is layered with ideological differences, commercial interests, and strategic competition.

Experts note that while global forums encourage cooperation on governance, safety, and ethical standards, competition among leading AI firms continues to shape technological progress.

Symbolism reflects broader industry dynamics

The brief but telling moment captured the fragmented nature of the global AI ecosystem. Even as leaders share platforms and discuss cooperation, deep divisions remain over regulation, safety frameworks, monetisation strategies, and long-term societal impacts.

As artificial intelligence reshapes economies and governance systems worldwide, such tensions are likely to remain part of the evolving landscape.