OpenAI and Anthropic Rivalry Goes Viral Onstage

An awkward moment between two of the artificial intelligence industry’s most influential leaders has gone viral, offering a glimpse into one of tech’s most closely watched rivalries.

During a group photo at the India AI Impact Summit, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei declined to hold hands while other leaders on stage linked arms for a ceremonial shot, instead raising their fists as cameras flashed.

The brief exchange quickly spread across social media, where users interpreted it as a symbolic reflection of the companies’ long-running tensions.

The rivalry dates back to 2021, when Amodei left OpenAI — where he served as vice president of research — to co-found Anthropic alongside several former colleagues. The split was widely associated with disagreements over leadership style, product direction and the role of safety in developing advanced AI systems.

Competition between the firms has intensified as both companies have grown rapidly and pushed competing chatbot models into the market. Recent friction resurfaced publicly during the Super Bowl advertising cycle, when Anthropic aired campaigns emphasizing themes like trust and safety, widely viewed as indirect criticism of rivals.