Altman, Amodei Skip Unity Hand Gesture at AI Impact Summit in Delhi

An unexpected moment unfolded at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi when two of the world’s most prominent artificial intelligence leaders declined to participate in a symbolic unity gesture alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, brought together global technology executives, policymakers and researchers to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and India’s role in shaping responsible AI governance. During a ceremonial group photograph at the end of a session, PM Modi invited the dignitaries on stage to join hands and raise them together, signalling collective commitment to collaboration in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

While most participants complied with the gesture, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei did not link hands with those beside them. Instead, both executives raised their hands separately, creating a visible break in the chain formed by others on stage. The brief moment, captured in photographs and videos, quickly circulated on social media, drawing attention to the optics of the interaction. Altman leads OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, while Amodei heads Anthropic, a competing AI research firm. The two share professional history, with Amodei having previously worked at OpenAI before departing to co-found Anthropic, which positions itself with a strong focus on AI safety and alignment. Their companies are widely seen as rivals in the global race to develop advanced generative AI systems.

The gesture at the summit was intended to project unity among stakeholders as nations and corporations grapple with the ethical, economic and security implications of AI. India has been actively positioning itself as a key player in shaping global frameworks for responsible AI development, and the summit was designed to foster cooperation across borders and sectors.

Following the event, Altman reportedly suggested that he was momentarily unsure about the nature of the gesture on stage, indicating some confusion during the photo opportunity. There was no immediate public comment from Amodei regarding the incident.

Observers noted that while the episode lasted only seconds, it underscored the competitive undercurrents within the AI industry. The rivalry between major AI labs has intensified in recent years, not only over technological breakthroughs but also over questions of safety standards, transparency and regulatory engagement.