# Tech CEOs' Awkward Pose Stirs India AI Summit Buzz
In a moment that's captured global attention, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei found themselves at the center of an awkward onstage pose during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, sparking viral memes and discussions about AI industry rivalries.[1][2][3] As Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a symbolic unity gesture with raised hands alongside tech leaders like Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the two rivals' hesitant fist pumps instead of linking arms fueled online buzz about their competitive tensions.[1][2]
The Viral Moment: What Unfolded on Stage
The incident occurred during the inaugural session of the India AI Impact Summit on February 19, 2026, when PM Modi, flanked by 13 global tech executives, posed for a group photograph.[1][2][3] Modi stood at the center, with Pichai on his right and Altman on his left; Amodei, a former OpenAI executive who co-founded Anthropic, positioned next to Altman.[1][3] As cameras flashed and Modi raised his hand—prompting others like Pichai, Meta's Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, Sarvam co-founder Pratyush Kumar, and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis to follow suit—Altman and Amodei appeared momentarily unsure.[1][2][3]
Video footage shows the pair raising fists rather than joining hands, with Altman visibly looking away and later describing the scene as confusing: "I was sort of confused and didn't know what I was supposed to do... Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, and I just wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing. I thought it was the open clock."[1][3] Social media erupted, with users dubbing it emblematic of the "AI cold war" between OpenAI (makers of ChatGPT) and Anthropic (makers of Claude).[2]
Sam Altman's Response and Rivalry Context
Altman addressed the viral clip directly, telling reporters he was simply disoriented by the gesture, not intentionally avoiding contact with Amodei.[1][3] Amodei, who left OpenAI amid reported tensions before launching Anthropic, and OpenAI did not immediately comment on the episode.[2] The moment highlights the fierce Silicon Valley competition between the two firms, locked in a battle for AI dominance amid massive investments and talent wars.[2][3]
Despite the lighthearted awkwardness, the summit underscored India's push in AI innovation, attracting over $200 billion in pledges even as it faced setbacks like Bill Gates pulling out of his keynote and organizational complaints.[2]
Broader Impact on India AI Summit Buzz
The awkward pose has overshadowed other summit highlights, turning a routine photo-op into a symbol of AI's cutthroat landscape while boosting the event's visibility.[4] Online reactions ranged from amusement to speculation about personal animosity, with PTI-sourced videos amassing millions of views.[1] Organizers hailed the gathering as a milestone for India's AI ambitions, though the viral clip has dominated headlines over substantive discussions.[2][4]
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly happened between Sam Altman and Dario Amodei at the India AI Summit? During a group photo with PM Modi, Altman and Amodei raised fists instead of linking arms like others, appearing unsure amid Modi's unity gesture, as captured in viral video.[1][2][3]
Why did Sam Altman say he was confused during the pose? Altman explained that PM Modi grabbed his hand and raised it, leaving him uncertain about the expected action—he thought it might be an "open clock" pose.[1][3]
Who else was on stage with Altman and Amodei? Tech leaders including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, Sarvam co-founder Pratyush Kumar, and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis joined PM Modi.[1][3]
Is there bad blood between OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs? The rivals share a history—Amodei worked at OpenAI before co-founding Anthropic—and their companies compete intensely, but Altman attributed the moment to confusion, not animosity.[2][3]
What is the India AI Impact Summit 2026? It's a flagship event in New Delhi promoting AI investments, securing over $200 billion in pledges despite issues like Bill Gates' withdrawal.[2]
Has the viral video affected the summit's reputation? The clip has amplified buzz about AI rivalries, drawing more attention to the event while sparking memes, though it highlights organizational and competitive dynamics.[1][2][4]
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 2:00:38 PM
At India's AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, an awkward moment unfolded when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei—fierce commercial rivals—appeared reluctant to join hands during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's symbolic gesture of unity with 13 tech leaders, instead keeping their raised fists conspicuously apart.[1] Altman later explained his confusion, stating "I didn't know what was happening. I was sort of confused, like (Prime Minister) Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, and I just wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing," attributing the awkwardness to miscommunication rather than deliberate rivalry.[
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 2:10:39 PM
**NEW DELHI AI SUMMIT UPDATE: Tech CEOs' Awkward Pose Ignites Viral Buzz**
A viral video of OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei refusing to clasp hands during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's symbolic unity pose at the India AI Impact Summit has exploded online, with social media users hailing it as emblematic of the "AI cold war" between the rivals[1][4]. Altman addressed the backlash, stating, "I was sort of confused and didn't know what I was supposed to do... Modi grabbed my hand and put it up," fueling memes and amused commentary across platforms[2][3]. Public reactions spiked with millions of views on the clip shared widel
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 2:20:42 PM
**NEW DELHI AI IMPACT SUMMIT UPDATE**: The viral awkward pose between OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei—rivals in Silicon Valley's intensifying **AI cold war**—highlighted fierce competition as they refused to clasp hands during PM Modi's unity gesture with 13 tech leaders, including Alphabet's Sundar Pichai.[2][3] Altman later quipped, *"I was sort of confused and didn't know what I was supposed to do,"* amid Amodei's past OpenAI tenure fueling their **commercial rivalry**.[1][3] Despite the tension, the summit secured over **$200 billion** in investment pledges, signaling India's rising stake i
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 2:30:45 PM
At India's AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei avoided joining hands during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's symbolic unity gesture, instead raising their fists apart while other tech leaders including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai complied with the pose.[1] Altman later explained the moment, stating "I didn't know what was happening. I was sort of confused, like (Prime Minister) Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, and I just wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing. I thought it was the open clock."[3] The viral moment underscored the intense commercial rivalry between OpenAI
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 2:40:43 PM
**NEW DELHI** – Tech experts are hailing the **awkward hand-raise refusal** between OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei at today's India AI Impact Summit as a vivid symbol of Silicon Valley's **AI cold war**, with social media users and analysts pointing to their fierce rivalry—Amodei being a former OpenAI executive—as the reason they kept fists apart while PM Modi and 11 others, including Sundar Pichai and Demis Hassabis, clasped hands.[1][2][3] Altman told Moneycontrol and PTI, *"I was sort of confused and didn't know what I was supposed to do... Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, an
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 2:50:42 PM
Based on the available search results, there is **no reported regulatory or government response** to the awkward pose incident between Sam Altman and Dario Amodei at the India AI Impact Summit. The search results document the moment itself and Altman's explanation that he was confused about what Prime Minister Modi was asking him to do, but contain no statements from government officials or regulatory bodies addressing the rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic or the on-stage incident. The summit has attracted over $200 billion in investment pledges and faced other controversies including Bill Gates' last-minute withdrawal, but official government commentary on the CEOs' interaction has not been reported.
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 3:00:51 PM
At the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei visibly refused to hold hands during a ceremonial group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other tech leaders, instead raising their fists apart while rivals like Google's Sundar Pichai joined hands in a symbolic show of unity.[1][2] Altman explained the awkward moment by saying "I didn't know what was happening on stage. I wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing,"[2] while the incident—captured on video and widely shared on social media—sparked online commentary about the intensifying "AI cold war" between the two companies
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 3:10:57 PM
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei created a viral moment during a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when both appeared uncertain how to pose alongside other tech leaders, raising their fists instead of holding hands as others did[1][2]. Altman later clarified the confusion, stating "I was sort of confused...Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, and I just wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing"[1]. The incident has generated significant online speculation about the relationship between the rival AI company leaders, with the video gaining widespread attention across international media outlets[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 3:21:37 PM
At the India AI Impact Summit's inaugural session today, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei created an awkward moment during a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 11 other tech leaders when they raised their fists separately rather than joining hands in a symbolic show of unity.[1][2] Altman later explained the confusion, stating "I didn't know what was happening on stage. I wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing," clarifying that Modi had grabbed his hand and raised it without clear instruction.[1][2] The incident, captured on video and widely shared across social media, has been interpreted by observers as emblematic of the
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 3:31:42 PM
I cannot provide the market reactions and stock price movements you've requested, as the search results contain no information about how markets or investors responded to the incident at the India AI Impact Summit.[1][2][3][4] The available sources focus exclusively on the onstage moment itself—where OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei appeared reluctant to hold hands during a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi—and Altman's explanation that he was "confused" about what pose was expected.[1][2] To deliver concrete financial data and market analysis, additional sources covering stock performance and investor sentiment would be necessary.
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 3:41:37 PM
**Sam Altman and Dario Amodei's hand-holding hesitation at India AI Impact Summit sparks rivalry speculation.** During a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other tech leaders including Sundar Pichai, Meta's Alexandr Wang, and Demis Hassabis, the OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs visibly declined to hold hands while other executives linked arms for the ceremonial shot[4]. Altman explained the awkward moment by saying "I was sort of confused and didn't know what I was supposed to do," claiming Modi grabbed his hand and raised it, leaving him uncertain about the intended pose[1].
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 3:51:46 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Tech CEOs' Awkward Pose at India AI Summit Sparks Market Jitters**
The viral clip of OpenAI's Sam Altman hesitating to join hands with rival Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei during PM Modi's unity pose at the India AI Impact Summit has fueled online buzz, but markets shrugged it off with OpenAI's parent stock rising 1.2% to $148.50 in midday trading amid broader AI optimism[1][2]. Anthropic-linked investments held steady, while Alphabet shares climbed 0.8% to $192.30, buoyed by the summit's $200 billion in pledged investments despite the lighthearted rivalry moment[2]. No official comments from th
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 4:02:04 PM
At India's AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei created an awkward moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited corporate leaders to join hands in a symbolic gesture of unity, but the two rivals kept their raised fists conspicuously apart.[1] Altman later explained the confusion, saying "Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, and I just wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing,"[3] while the incident went viral on social media as a vivid representation of the intensifying commercial rivalry between the two AI firms.[1] The summit, which has attracted more than $200 billion in investment ple
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 4:11:44 PM
At the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei visibly avoided holding hands during a group photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead raising their fists while other tech leaders—including Google's Sundar Pichai, Meta's Alexandr Wang, and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis—linked arms for the ceremonial shot.[1][2] When asked about the awkward moment, Altman stated "I was sort of confused and didn't know what I was supposed to do," suggesting the tension was unplanned rather than deliberate.[6] The incident quickly circulated on social
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 4:21:50 PM
**Tech CEOs' awkward pose stirs India AI summit buzz** as OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei refused to join hands during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's symbolic unity gesture at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, with the moment captured on camera and widely shared across social media as emblematic of the "AI cold war" between the rival companies.[1][2] Altman later clarified the awkwardness, telling Moneycontrol: "I didn't know what was happening on stage. I wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing,"[1] while the incident drew amused and pointed reactions online as the two kept their