Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking & Finance Review® is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Modi's AI unity pose turns awkward for Altman and Amodei

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

Posted on February 19, 2026

2 min read

Last updated: February 19, 2026

Modi's AI unity pose turns awkward for Altman and Amodei - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review

Tags:fintech technology Startups

Quick Summary

At India's AI summit, Modi's unity pose turned awkward as OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei stayed apart, amplifying talk of an AI cold war. The event still drew $200B+ pledges amid rival jabs and Bill Gates' late keynote exit.

Modi's AI unity moment highlights OpenAI-Anthropic rivalry onstage

By Munsif Vengattil

NEW DELHI, Feb 19 (Reuters) - When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi nudged speakers at the India AI summit to join and raise their hands in a symbolic show of unity, most executives obliged. Two did not: rivals Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic.

The two, who are locked in one of Silicon Valley's fiercest commercial rivalries, were standing side by side as the 13 corporate leaders joined Modi on stage, but they kept their raised fists conspicuously apart.

Altman appeared visibly uncomfortable, looking away as the others, including Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, went along with Modi's nudge and joined hands.

The episode, captured on camera and widely shared across social media, drew amused and pointed reactions online, with many users describing it as emblematic of the "AI cold war" between OpenAI and Anthropic.

"I didn't know what was happening on stage. I wasn't sure what we were supposed to be doing," Altman later told news website Moneycontrol.

OpenAI and Anthropic did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Bill Gates pulled out of India's summit hours before his scheduled keynote address on Thursday, dealing a blow to a flagship event already marred by organisational lapses, a robot row and complaints of traffic chaos.

However, the summit has attracted more than $200 billion in investment pledges.

Anthropic was co-founded in 2021 by Dario Amodei and other former OpenAI employees who broke away over disagreements about safety, commercialisation, and Altman's leadership style.

The rift has since hardened into a full-blown commercial war.

At this year's Super Bowl, Anthropic aired satirical commercials taking a pointed jab at OpenAI's plans to introduce advertising inside ChatGPT.

(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in New Delhi; Editing by Aditya Kalra and Kate Mayberry)

Key Takeaways

•Modi urged speakers to join hands onstage; Sam Altman and Dario Amodei kept their hands apart.
•The clip went viral, fueling talk of an 'AI cold war' between OpenAI and Anthropic.
•Altman later said he wasn't sure what was happening; both firms declined Reuters' comment requests.
•Bill Gates withdrew hours before his planned keynote, adding to event setbacks.
•Despite hiccups, the summit touted over $200B in investment pledges; rivalry also flared via Super Bowl ads.

Frequently Asked Questions about Modi's AI unity pose turns awkward for Altman and Amodei

1What is the main topic?

An awkward onstage moment at India's AI summit where Sam Altman and Dario Amodei did not join a unity pose, underscoring the rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic.

2Why is this significant for finance readers?

The episode spotlights competitive dynamics among AI leaders influencing investment flows, product roadmaps like ChatGPT ads, and over $200B in pledges tied to the summit.

3Did the companies respond?

Altman said he was unsure what was happening onstage. OpenAI and Anthropic did not comment to Reuters, keeping speculation alive about their escalating competition.