In a moment that has gone viral,Sam Altmanwas caught off-guard as Narendra Modi grabbed his hand at the AI summit, resulting in a fist raise with Dario Amodei that captured online attention.
On 19 February 2026, during the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi orchestrated a group photo with tech leaders. He raised hands with Altman and Sundar Pichai, but Altman and Amodei chose fists over hand-holding, amid their companies' rivalry. The clip has millions of views.
Altman remarked he was 'sort of confused' about the gesture. The summit focuses on India's role in global AI, with calls for ethical and inclusive development.
The incident unfolded at the summit's opening at Bharat Mandapam. Modi, hosting the first global AI summit in the Global South, invited leaders like Altman, Amodei, Pichai, Alexandr Wang, Pratyush Kumar, and Demis Hassabis on stage. Hegrabbed Altman's and Pichai's hands, lifting them in celebration as the crowd applauded.
The chain was meant to symbolise unity, but when it came to Altman and Amodei, they paused, appearing unsure, and raised individual fists. This hesitation lasted several seconds, making it noticeable to the audience and cameras.
The background of theirrivalry—Amodei departingOpenAIto foundAnthropicin 2021 over safety concerns—has led observers to interpret it as a sign of ongoing tensions.
Recent spats, such as Anthropic'sSuper Bowl admocking OpenAI's ad plans, have kept the competition in the spotlight. Such dynamics made the moment hardly a surprise to industry watchers.
Altman broke the silence hours later, saying, 'I didn't know what was happening. Modi grabbed my hand and put it up, and I just wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing.' Social media exploded with memes and comments.
OneX user joked, 'When AGI? The day Dario and Sam hold hands.'
When AGI?The day Dario and Sam hold hands.pic.twitter.com/bfmqgnTV89
Source: International Business Times UK
