STORY: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei visibly declined to hold hands during a group photo at the India AI Impact Summit on Thursday (February 19), even as other leaders on stage linked arms for the ceremonial shot.

The moment comes less than two weeks after the companies clashed publicly over Super Bowl advertising, when Anthropic aired nationally televised spots with headlines including "Deception," "Betrayal" and "Treachery" — widely seen as targeting OpenAI's plans to introduce ads into its ChatGPT chatbot.

The public awkwardness underscores a rift that traces back years. Amodei co-founded Anthropic in 2021 after departing OpenAI, where he served as vice president of research, amid reported disagreements over AI safety priorities and Altman's leadership style. The tensions have grown as both companies have ballooned in valuation.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: OPENAI CEO SAM ALTMAN AND ANTHROPIC CEO DARIO AMODEI REFUSING TO HOLD HANDS DURING GROUP PHOTO AT INDIA AI SUMMIT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: NEW DELHI, INDIA (FEBRUARY 19, 2026) (DOORDASHAN - No Use India)

1. GLOBAL TECH LEADERS STANDING ON STAGE AT AI SUMMIT

2. AUDIENCE

3. TECH LEADERS RAISING HELD HANDS

4. INDIA PRIME MINISTER, NARENDRA MODI, HOLDING RAISED HANDS WITH GOOGLE CEO, SUNDAR PICHAI, AND OPENAI CEO, SAM ALTMAN

5. AUDIENCE

6. VARIOUS OF ALTMAN AND ANTHROPIC CEO, DARIO AMODEI, STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER WITH RAISED ARMS, NOT HOLDING HANDS WHILE OTHERS DO

7. AUDIENCE

8. MODI AND TECH LEADERS LOWERING ARMS

9. PICHAI, MODI AND ALTMAN

10. MODI AND TECH LEADERS WALKING OFF STAGE