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AI Rivals' Awkward Photo Op with PM Modi
19 Feb
Summary
- Sam Altman and Dario Amodei showed confusion during a group photo.
- The moment occurred at the India AI Impact Summit with PM Modi.
- Altman and Amodei lead rival AI companies, OpenAI and Anthropic.

At the recent India AI Impact Summit, a notable moment of confusion occurred during a group photograph featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several prominent tech leaders. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, heads of two major AI firms, stood beside the Prime Minister. Both executives appeared uncertain about the appropriate pose, with Altman later recounting his bewilderment.
The incident involved a handshake or arm-clasping gesture, which Altman, unfamiliar with the protocol, interpreted as a potential "open clock." He mentioned being guided by Prime Minister Modi's hand, leading to a moment of shared hesitation between him and Amodei.
Altman and Amodei share a past, having worked together at OpenAI before Amodei co-founded Anthropic. Their companies now represent intense competition in the AI sector, highlighted by recent marketing clashes, including Anthropic's satirical Super Bowl advertisements targeting OpenAI's strategies.




