The Handshake That Wasn’t: OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs’ Awkward Summit Moment

When the photographers called for the group photo at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, organizers expected a moment of unity. What they captured instead was a telling snapshot of an industry divided. Positioned side by side for the cameras, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stood frozen—arms at their sides, gazes fixed forward, the space between them speaking volumes.

“The moment was meant to be a show of unity about the future of humanity. Instead, it became a viral symbol of the AI industry’s deepest rivalry.” — Summit Attendee

A Rivalry Escalates on the World Stage

The awkward encounter comes just weeks after the two companies clashed in what industry watchers dubbed the “Super Bowl of AI”—a heated advertising battle during the big game’s commercial breaks. Anthropic’s ad, which many interpreted as a direct critique of OpenAI’s approach to AI development, reportedly boosted the company’s user visits by 11 percent according to BNP Paribas data.

But the tension runs deeper than marketing campaigns. Altman and Amodei share a complicated history. Both were instrumental in shaping modern AI at OpenAI before Amodei’s departure in 2020 to found Anthropic, taking with him a group of researchers concerned about AI safety. What started as a philosophical disagreement has evolved into the industry’s most consequential competition.

The philosophical divide centers on how quickly to develop and deploy increasingly powerful AI systems. OpenAI has pursued aggressive commercialization, partnering with Microsoft and rapidly releasing products to hundreds of millions of users. Anthropic has positioned itself as the more cautious alternative, emphasizing safety research and responsible deployment—even at the cost of market share.

The Pentagon Dispute Looms Large

Complicating matters further, the India summit coincided with a public dispute between Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon’s CTO publicly urged Anthropic to “cross the Rubicon” on military AI use cases, criticizing the company’s reluctance to work with defense agencies.

The comments highlight a growing rift in how AI companies approach national security contracts. While OpenAI and Google have secured Pentagon deals for unclassified systems, Anthropic has resisted—drawing both praise from AI ethics advocates and criticism from defense officials who argue the company is ceding influence to less scrupulous competitors.

“Anthropic’s principled stand on military AI has earned them admiration in some circles, but it’s also created friction with policymakers who see AI as essential to national security.” — Defense Technology Analyst

What the Photo Reveals

Body language experts have analyzed the summit photograph, noting how both CEOs maintained rigid postures despite being positioned for a handshake that never came. The image has since circulated widely on social media, with commentators offering interpretations ranging from “professional respect” to “barely concealed contempt.”

The industry implications extend beyond personal animosity. As AI becomes increasingly central to global economics and security, the relationship between its two most prominent American champions matters. Will they find common ground on safety standards and regulatory approaches? Or will their rivalry drive a race to the bottom?

The stakes were underscored by comments from Google AI CEO Demis Hassabis, who used the summit to share his skepticism about OpenAI’s ultimate goals. In a separate interview published during the event, Hassabis outlined three reasons why he believes Altman’s vision for artificial general intelligence cannot be realized—adding another voice to the growing chorus of industry leaders questioning whether the current trajectory leads where its architects promise.

The Road Ahead

As the India AI Impact Summit concludes, the photograph of two CEOs who couldn’t shake hands will likely outlast the policy announcements and partnership deals. It captures a moment when the AI industry stands at a crossroads—between cooperation and competition, between caution and acceleration, between the promise of transformative technology and the perils of moving too fast.

For Altman and Amodei, the next encounter may be less public but no less consequential. With both companies racing to develop more capable systems and both facing increasing scrutiny from regulators worldwide, the decisions they make in the coming months could shape the trajectory of artificial intelligence for decades.

Whether they find a way to bridge their divide—or whether the space between them in that photograph becomes a permanent feature of the AI landscape—remains to be seen.

This article was reported by the ArtificialDaily editorial team. For more information, visit Fortune, The New York Times, and DefenseScoop.