AI Summit Viral Moment: Sam Altman and Dario Amodei Skip Handshake

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, an unexpected moment between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei went viral, the two tech rivals did not shake hands during a ceremonial group photo with India’s Prime Minister. Altman later said he was “confused” about what was expected in the pose.

A brief but widely discussed moment overshadowed part of the India AI Impact Summit on Thursday as Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic stood next to each other during a group photo with global tech leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but did not clasp hands with the others. Instead, they raised their fists, creating a viral visual that sparked discussion online.

The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, featured major figures in AI technology, but this subtle and widely shared interaction drew attention to the ongoing rivalry between the two leading AI companies.

What Really Happened on Stage

During the symbolic unity gesture organised by Prime Minister Modi, most leaders, including Google’s Sundar Pichai and Meta’s Alexandr Wang, joined hands for a raised-hands photo. Altman and Amodei, however, appeared hesitant. Both raised their fists without touching, a small but noticeable deviation.

The moment quickly spread across social media, with viewers interpreting it as a sign of tension between the companies. Some commentators said it hinted at a deeper AI industry rivalry rather than simple awkwardness.

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Altman Breaks Silence: “I Was Confused”

Hours after the incident hit headlines, Sam Altman addressed the interaction in a closed-door chat with reporters. He described his behaviour as a result of uncertainty, saying, “I was sort of confused and didn’t know what I was supposed to do” when the unity photo was being taken.

Altman explained that he wasn’t sure about the gesture or protocol during the group photo and was responding in the moment. His remark confirmed that the awkward moment was not intentional hostility but rather hesitation in an unexpected situation.

Context: OpenAI vs Anthropic

The exchange between Altman and Amodei comes against a backdrop of an ongoing competitive dynamic between their companies:

• Anthropic was founded in 2021 by Dario Amodei and others after he left OpenAI.
• The two firms now compete in developing major AI systems — ChatGPT from OpenAI and Claude from Anthropic.
• Recently, the rivalry intensified publicly through marketing and product strategies, including contrasting approaches to safety and monetisation.

This competition may have contributed to the moment’s broader interpretation, though Altman’s comments suggest the interaction was not meant as a pointed gesture.

What the Moment Signifies

While some observers framed the handshake avoidance as symbolic of an “AI cold war,” others saw it as a fleeting, human moment amid a high-stakes global event. The scene highlights how personalities and company narratives can become part of public perception in a field as dynamic as AI development.

The summit continued with major announcements and dialogues, but this onstage instance became one of the most shared visuals of the day.

Conclusion

What started as a routine group photo at the India AI Impact Summit turned into a viral moment when Sam Altman and Dario Amodei raised their fists instead of holding hands during a symbolic unity pose. While social media buzzed with interpretations, Altman later described his reaction as confusion over the expected pose rather than deliberate avoidance. In an industry defined by competition and contrasting philosophies, even small gestures can fuel big conversations.