Altman and Amodei share a moment of awkwardness at India’s big AI summit

February 20, 2026
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Altman and Amodei share a moment of awkwardness at India’s big AI summit

Here's something that caught my attention — at India’s big AI summit, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei’s moment of awkwardness stole the show. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked everyone on stage to join hands in a show of unity, most executives did. But Altman and Amodei? They kept their hands apart, with a noticeable gap. ((slower)) Now, according to Ivan Mehta writing in TechCrunch, this wasn’t just a casual thing — it looked like a subtle message or maybe just an awkward pause in an important moment. It’s fascinating because it shows how even powerful leaders can’t always control perception; sometimes, body language speaks louder than words. As Ivan reports, this simple gesture caught everyone's attention, and it’s a reminder that in the fast-moving world of AI, what’s unsaid can be just as telling as what’s said. So, keep an eye on these subtle signals — they might reveal more than anyone expects.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi prompted speakers at the event to join hands and raise them in a show of unity, all executives onstage obliged, except OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, who held their hands conspicuously apart.
Audio Transcript
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi prompted speakers at the event to join hands and raise them in a show of unity, all executives onstage obliged, except OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, who held their hands conspicuously apart.
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Altman and Amodei share a moment of awkwardness at India’s big AI summit | Speasy