OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs refuse to hold hands during Modi’s India AI summit photo op

During India's AI Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi organized a photo opportunity with business and political leaders. The event involved participants holding hands, but Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, declined to do so. The two CEOs, whose companies are leading AI developers, stood next to each other with arms raised but not touching. Amodei previously worked at OpenAI before founding Anthropic, reportedly due to differing views on commercial focus. The moment went viral on social media in India. Altman later stated he was unsure of what was expected during the photo op. OpenAI and Anthropic are currently valued at approximately $500 billion and $380 billion, respectively.

At a major AI summit in India on February 19, 2026, the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic declined to hold hands during a group photo. Sam Altman, head of OpenAI, and Dario Amodei, leading Anthropic, were present at the event. The incident highlights the ongoing rivalry between the two AI companies. Tensions between OpenAI and Anthropic reportedly increased earlier in the year when Anthropic ran attack advertisements during the Super Bowl. The summit aimed to bring together leaders in the artificial intelligence field.