Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile AI summit took an unexpected turn when an apparent awkward moment between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei caught public attention.
The summit, aimed at positioning India as a key player in global artificial intelligence development, brought together prominent technology leaders, policymakers and industry executives. However, observers noted visible tension when Altman and Amodei — leaders of two competing AI firms — appeared to avoid direct interaction during the event.
While no official statements were made about the moment, the optics quickly became a talking point across social media and industry circles. The two companies, OpenAI and Anthropic, are considered significant players in the generative AI space, often competing on research breakthroughs, safety frameworks and enterprise adoption.
The summit itself focused on collaboration, ethical AI deployment, regulatory frameworks and India’s ambitions to build sovereign AI capabilities. PM Modi emphasised responsible innovation and the need for global cooperation in shaping AI governance.
Analysts suggest that rivalry among AI companies is natural in a rapidly evolving industry. However, such moments at international events underscore the competitive pressures shaping the global AI ecosystem.
Despite the brief awkwardness, the broader summit discussions revolved around partnerships, investment opportunities and the development of AI infrastructure in emerging economies like India.
As artificial intelligence becomes central to economic and geopolitical strategy, events like these highlight both the collaborative and competitive dynamics driving the industry forward.
