With Prime Minister Narendra Modi on stage, AI’s long-running rivalry between OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei was once again laid bare when the two tech leaders hesitated to hold hands at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam.
As PM Modi looked on, the two rivals, standing next to each other, appeared uncomfortable. At the Prime Minister’s request — along with other prominent leaders on stage — they seemed reluctant to join hands. Eventually, instead of making a show of unity, the two raised their fists, breaking the chain.
Like a picture that speaks a thousand words, this still captured the moment as PM Modi seeks to position India as a key voice in the AI world. It underscored that the realities shaping the AI landscape are far more complex than simply having global leaders share the same stage.
Altman and Amodei could have stood side by side, but their decision not to play to the gallery by holding hands reflected how deeply divided and fragmented the AI world currently is.
At its core, this is a clash between two AI titans — ideologically at odds. The roots of the divide trace back to the founding of Anthropic, when Dario and Daniela Amodei, both former OpenAI vice-presidents, left their then-boss Altman over concerns that the company was prioritising commercialisation over safety.
Against this backdrop, Dario laid the foundation for a safety-first approach at the heart of his company, setting him on a course opposite to that of his former boss. Altman’s company, OpenAI, on the other hand, has kept a close watch on its former employee — now its biggest competitor — and has not shied away from criticising it at the drop of a hat.
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Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Feb 19, 2026
