Fist Bump Fallout: Altman and Amodei's Public Show of Rivalry

Former colleagues Sam Altman and Dario Amodei made headlines with a viral fist-raising moment, symbolizing their rivalry at the India AI Impact Summit alongside Prime Minister Modi and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Once working together at OpenAI, they now lead rival AI firms after a fallout led to Amodei's departure.


Devdiscourse News Desk | New Delhi | Updated: 19-02-2026 15:21 IST | Created: 19-02-2026 15:21 IST
Fist Bump Fallout: Altman and Amodei's Public Show of Rivalry
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At the India AI Impact Summit, a seemingly simple group photo became the center of attention after an awkward moment captured the brewing rivalry between Sam Altman and Dario Amodei. Instead of joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a gesture of unity, the two tech leaders chose to raise their fists, breaking the chain of hands.

This display was far from ordinary, as Altman and Amodei, once colleagues at OpenAI, are now leading rival companies in the AI industry. Altman, who has been OpenAI's CEO since 2019, stood beside Pichai and Modi, while Amodei, now the CEO of Anthropic, stood at the other end, distinctly apart from the crowd's united pose.

The two American technology executives' choice to step away from tradition and raise their fists was a symbolic representation of their professional split. Amidst the summit's pursuit of innovation and collaboration, the moment underscored the competitive nature of the AI sector, drawing immense public interest.

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