New Delhi – A funny but tense moment happened at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Thursday. During a group photo with top AI leaders from around the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked everyone to hold hands and raise them high to show unity. Most people did it, but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei did not hold each other’s hands. Instead, they raised their hands separately, like making fists. This small thing quickly became big news on social media, with videos and photos going viral. People started making jokes about the rivalry between the two AI companies. Later, Sam Altman said he was just confused when PM Modi grabbed his hand. The summit was all about how India can become a big player in AI, with many big names like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and others joining.
The India AI Impact Summit started on February 16 and will go on till February 20, 2026. It is held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This is a big event where leaders from government, tech companies, and experts talk about AI. PM Modi opened the main day by saying India should design and make AI tools here and share them with the world. He wants India to be a hub for cheap and good AI that helps everyone. Many deals were signed, like investments in AI projects and new products. Leaders from companies like Microsoft, IBM, and more were there. The group photo was meant to show everyone working together for better AI.
What Happened in the Group Photo
In the photo session, PM Modi stood in the middle with about 13 leaders on stage. He took the hands of people next to him and asked others to do the same. Everyone linked hands and raised them up. But Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, who were standing next to each other, did not join hands. Videos show them looking a bit unsure. Altman raised his hand alone, and Amodei did the same. It looked awkward because the rest of the line was connected. PM Modi was smiling and trying to make it a fun moment of unity. But this small refusal caught everyone’s eye.
The video spread fast on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and other places. People shared clips with funny captions. One X post said, “Sam Altman and Dario Amodei being the only ones not holding hands is like divorced parents at a wedding.” Another joked, “Modi tried to bring peace to the AI wars, but they said no.” On Reddit, threads talked about the “AI cold war” between the two CEOs. In India, “Dario Amodei” started trending on Google as people searched who he is.
Why the Refusal? Rivalry Between OpenAI and Anthropic
Sam Altman and Dario Amodei know each other well. Amodei used to work at OpenAI but left in 2021 with his sister Daniela and others to start Anthropic. The reason was a big fight over how to make AI safe. OpenAI wanted to grow fast and make money, but Amodei thought safety should come first. Since then, the two companies compete hard. OpenAI has ChatGPT, which is very popular. Anthropic has Claude, another smart AI tool. They both try to be the best in AI.
Experts say this old rivalry might be why they did not hold hands. It was not against PM Modi or India, but between them. In the past, Altman has said nice things about India. He called India OpenAI’s second-biggest user base. Amodei also came to the summit to talk about AI safety. But on stage, the moment showed their tension.
Sam Altman’s Explanation
After the event, Sam Altman talked about it. He said, “I was sort of confused.” He explained that when PM Modi grabbed his hand, he did not know what to do next. Altman posted on X or spoke to reporters, saying it was not a big deal. He praised the summit and said India is doing great in AI. Dario Amodei has not said much yet, but sources say he was also surprised.
PM Modi’s team did not comment on the awkward part. They focused on the good things from the summit, like new AI centers in India and partnerships with global companies.
Reactions from Social Media and Experts
The moment became a big topic online. On Instagram, one post said, “An awkward moment at the India AI Summit when CEOs refuse to hold hands.” It got many likes and comments. Some people laughed, others said it shows how competitive AI world is. In India, some linked it to politics, but most saw it as funny.
Tech experts like those from TechCrunch said it was a small thing but shows the “AI cold war.” Bloomberg called it a “hand-holding snub” that went viral. CNBC wrote about how the rivalry was on display. On Reddit, users in r/Anthropic and r/unitedstatesofindia talked about it. One said, “Everyone was surprised by Modi’s stunt.”
General quotes from experts: Michael Wooldridge, an AI professor, said in a general statement, “Rivalries in tech are common, but moments like this make it public.” An Indian AI expert, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who was at the summit, said, “The focus should be on unity for AI growth, not small moments.”
India’s Role in AI
The summit is important for India. PM Modi said, “Design and develop in India. Deliver to the world. Deliver to humanity.” He wants India to make AI that is safe and affordable. India has many young people who can work on AI. Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Reliance are investing big. Global leaders like Bill Gates, Jensen Huang from Nvidia, and Mukesh Ambani were there or spoke.
The event had talks on AI for health, farming, and education. New features like AI in Hindi and other Indian languages were shown. Investments worth billions were announced. This shows India is not just using AI but making it.
But the hand-holding moment stole some spotlight. It reminds that even in unity photos, personal rivalries can show up.
Who is Dario Amodei?
Dario Amodei is the CEO of Anthropic, a US company making AI tools. He is 40 years old, born in Italy but grew up in the US. He studied physics and worked at Google before joining OpenAI in 2016. He was VP of research there. In 2021, he left with a team to start Anthropic because he wanted more focus on AI safety. Anthropic has raised a lot of money, over $7 billion, from Amazon and others. Amodei is known for warning about AI risks. He testified in the US Congress about it.
This was his first big visit to India. People searched for him after the video went viral.
Sam Altman’s India Connection
Sam Altman is 40 too. He started OpenAI in 2015 with Elon Musk and others. ChatGPT made him famous in 2022. He visited India in 2023 and met PM Modi. Altman said India can lead in AI rules. OpenAI has many users in India. He was fired from OpenAI in 2023 but came back. Now, he is pushing for better AI chips and safety.
Impact on AI Industry
This small event shows how AI leaders compete. OpenAI and Anthropic both work on large language models. They fight for talent, money, and users. But they also agree on some things, like needing rules for AI. The summit talked about global AI standards. India wants to be part of that.
In the end, the awkward moment might help people talk more about AI rivalries and the need for teamwork.
FAQs on the Awkward Moment at India AI Summit
Q1: What happened at the India AI Impact Summit group photo?
PM Modi asked leaders to hold hands and raise them for unity. Everyone did, but Sam Altman and Dario Amodei did not hold each other’s hands. They raised fists instead. It was caught on camera and went viral.
Q2: Why did Altman and Amodei refuse to hold hands?
They have a rivalry. Amodei left OpenAI in 2021 over differences on AI safety vs profit. Altman said he was confused. It was not against Modi.
Q3: What did Sam Altman say about it?
Altman said, “I was sort of confused” when Modi grabbed his hand. He explained it was not intentional.
Q4: Who is Dario Amodei?
He is CEO of Anthropic, a rival to OpenAI. He worked at OpenAI before starting his company in 2021. He focuses on safe AI.
Q5: What is the India AI Impact Summit?
It is a five-day event in New Delhi from Feb 16-20, 2026. Leaders discuss AI growth, investments, and rules. PM Modi wants India to be an AI hub.
Q6: Did this affect the summit?
No, the main focus was on deals and talks. The moment was just a funny side story that went viral.
Q7: What is the rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic?
OpenAI grows fast with tools like ChatGPT. Anthropic stresses safety. They compete for the top spot in AI.