Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has said he felt confused and uncomfortable during an onstage moment with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
In an interview with Moneycontrol, Altman recalled the incident, saying he was unsure about what was happening during the live event. “I didn’t know what was happening on stage. I was confused. He grabbed my hand, and I was wondering what we were supposed to do,” Altman said.
The summit brought together leading global figures in artificial intelligence to discuss new AI models, regulation, and the broader impact of the technology on society. However, the most widely discussed moment from the event was not related to policy or product announcements. Instead, it was a staged photo opportunity where around 14 senior AI leaders were asked to hold hands on stage to project unity.
The moment, intended to symbolise cooperation, quickly went viral online. Many viewers described it as awkward and overly staged. Critics accused the event organisers of turning a major AI conference into a political-style photo opportunity rather than focusing on substantive discussions.
The viral clip also featured Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who stood alongside Altman. In footage shared online, both Altman and Amodei appeared hesitant to join the hand-holding formation. Instead, they briefly raised a fist, creating what many described as an awkward disruption of the planned pose.
The hesitation attracted attention because Altman and Amodei lead two of the most influential AI companies globally. Anthropic is considered one of OpenAI’s main competitors, and Amodei previously worked at OpenAI before co-founding Anthropic.
The incident sparked mixed reactions online, with some international and Indian social media users expressing embarrassment over the moment, while others viewed it as a minor and symbolic gesture that drew outsized attention.
