The AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, held at the Bharat Mandapam, was designed to showcase global unity and India’s growing role in the technology sector. However, a specific moment during a group photo session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has captured more attention than the policy discussions themselves. As the world’s top tech leaders gathered on stage, Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) and Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), who were standing right next to each other, notably avoided the traditional hand-holding gesture. While PM Modi and other leaders like Google’s Sundar Pichai clasped hands and raised them in a sign of solidarity, Altman and Amodei opted for separate, awkward raised fists, leaving a clear gap in the chain.
A Rivalry Rooted in History
This visible distance is not just a coincidence but a reflection of a deep-seated professional and ideological rift. Dario Amodei and his sister Daniela were once key members of the leadership team at OpenAI, with Dario serving as the Vice President of Research. In 2021, they left the company along with several senior researchers to start Anthropic. The split was reportedly caused by “directional differences,” specifically concerns that OpenAI was prioritizing commercial expansion and rapid scaling over rigorous AI safety and ethical guardrails. Since then, the two companies have been locked in a fierce competition, with Anthropic positioning its “Claude” chatbot as the safer, more responsible alternative to OpenAI’s “ChatGPT.”
Tension on the Global Stage
The “cold shoulder” in Delhi follows a series of public spats between the two firms. Just weeks before the summit, the rivalry intensified when Anthropic aired ads criticizing OpenAI’s decision to include advertisements in its products, leading Altman to publicly call the move “authoritarian.” At the Delhi summit, even as PM Modi unveiled his “MANAV” vision—a framework focusing on ethics and human-centric AI—the awkward body language between the two CEOs served as a reminder of the “AI Cold War.” While the summit aimed for a “Bretton Woods moment” of global cooperation, the refusal to hold hands highlighted that personal and corporate friction remains a major hurdle in the race for artificial intelligence.
Deputy Editor, Prime Post
Anand Gantela is a seasoned media professional with nearly three decades of experience across the spectrum of Indian journalism. Having worked extensively in both print and broadcast media, he has held key positions at renowned outlets such as Prajashakthi, Andhra Bhoomi, Mudra, Media India, Siti Cable, Mana Telugu, and Maa TV. From ground-level reporting to managing news bureaus and overseeing bulletin production, Anand has witnessed the evolution of news firsthand. His wealth of experience reflects a deep understanding of the dynamic and ever- evolving landscape of news reporting.
