An awkward yet amusing moment caught attention of all during a high-profile group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit here on Thursday when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei opted for raised fists instead of the customary hand-holding pose.The photograph, featuring Modi alongside leading global AI honchos, was meant to signal unity and collaboration in the sector. As leaders on stage joined hands at the Prime Minister’s cue, Altman and Amodei, who were standing next to each other, appeared briefly hesitant. Instead of joining hands, the two exchanged a quick glance and lifted clenched fists in a polite, mid-air gesture.The split-second exchange was captured on camera and circulated online, drawing amused reactions. Many saw the body language as a light reflection of the competitive dynamic between the rival AI firms they lead.Colleagues to rivalsAnthropic was founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers, including Dario Amodei, after disagreements over the company’s direction. Positioning itself as a “safety-first” AI firm, Anthropic has since emerged as one of OpenAI’s most prominent global competitors.Speaking later, Altman acknowledged the awkwardness. “I was sort of confused and didn’t know what I was supposed to do,” he said, describing the onstage moment with Anthropic CEO. “I didn’t know what was happening,” Altman said.“Like when (Prime Minister) Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, I just wasn’t sure what we were supposed to be doing. I thought it was the open clock,” he said.The brief visual pause also carried a deeper context. Altman and Amodei worked together at OpenAI until 2019. In 2020, Amodei, along with his sister Daniela and other senior researchers, left the company following disagreements over its direction and governance. They went on to found Anthropic, positioning it as a safety-focused alternative in the rapidly evolving AI race, a rivalry that has since become one of the defining competitions in the global artificial intelligence industry.
