A brief onstage hesitation between two of the world’s most influential artificial intelligence leaders has set social media buzzing. But according to Sam Altman, there was nothing dramatic behind the viral moment involving Dario Amodei at the India AI Impact Summit.
The incident unfolded during a ceremonial group photo session in New Delhi, where global tech leaders gathered alongside Narendra Modi. As cameras flashed and leaders raised joined hands in a symbolic gesture of unity, Altman and Amodei appeared momentarily unsure about what to do. While others held hands and lifted them high, the two AI executives briefly kept their fists raised.
The clip quickly made its way across social media platforms. Given the competitive history between OpenAI and Anthropic, many interpreted the hesitation as a sign of tension.
Altman, however, offered a much simpler explanation.
“I was sort of confused and didn’t know what I was supposed to do,” he said while speaking to reporters. He explained that Prime Minister Modi grabbed his hand and lifted it, but in the moment, he was unsure of the choreography. “I didn’t know what was happening,” he added, dismissing suggestions that the pause reflected rivalry.
The context matters. Amodei previously worked at OpenAI until 2020. After parting ways with the company, he co-founded Anthropic with his sister Daniela Amodei and other researchers. Since then, Anthropic has emerged as one of OpenAI’s strongest competitors in the global AI race. Differences in approach to safety, governance, and commercialization have often placed the two companies on contrasting paths.
In November 2023, when OpenAI’s board briefly removed Altman as CEO, reports indicated that Amodei was approached as a possible replacement. He declined, and Altman returned to the role days later following intense internal negotiations. That episode further fueled public interest in the dynamic between the two leaders.
Against that backdrop, even a split-second hesitation during a public appearance can appear symbolic. But industry insiders suggest the viral moment likely says more about the pressures of high-profile events than about personal friction.
#WATCH | Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with global tech leaders including the CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, Alexandr Wang, Chief AI Officer of Meta, CEO of Anthropic, Dario Amodei pose for a group photograph at the India AI… pic.twitter.com/GccXlG9rRx
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026
The summit itself was focused on India’s expanding role in shaping global AI policy and innovation. Leaders including Sundar Pichai and Alexandr Wang joined discussions on responsible AI development, partnerships, and inclusive growth strategies. India positioned itself as a major voice in the global AI ecosystem, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and corporate leaders.
In an era where every gesture is recorded and replayed, moments like these can quickly take on a life of their own. What lasted only seconds on stage became a topic of global discussion.
For Altman, it was simply confusion in a choreographed photo opportunity. For the internet, it became another chapter in the ongoing narrative of OpenAI versus Anthropic.
As competition in artificial intelligence intensifies, the spotlight on its leading figures will only grow brighter. Sometimes, though, a viral moment is just that — a moment.