Divyanshu G 
The public conflict between two of the most prominent figures in the artificial intelligence industry is a spectacular event. Most recently, the conflict between Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and OpenAI’s Sam Altman has been increasing, triggering heated discussions on social media. But what is it that caused this feud?
The Spark at the India AI Summit 2026
What has caused them to trend right now is a viral moment at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. When Sam Altman and Dario Amodei got the chance to take a group photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they were noticeably not holding hands but instead, they clenched separate fists. This stilted performance went viral and internet users labeled it as a sign of an industry rivalry that was going on. Here you will find an account of the summit incident.
Unpacking the OpenAI vs Anthropic Feud
This anguish in the street is the tip of the iceberg. The competition is based on profound differences in philosophy. The Economic Times reports that Amodei, who served as an OpenAI vice-president, resigned in 2021 and founded Anthropic on the strict grounds that it was focused on AI safety rather than an aggressive commercialization approach.
Super Bowl Ads and the AI Cold War
The friction hit a boiling point recently with a commercial by Anthropic that was aired during the Super Bowl ridiculing the intention of OpenAI to add advertisements to ChatGPT. Altman was quick to retaliate, explaining his tactic as a preliminary move to enable AI to be available to the billions financially, but not mere premium subscribers. This exchange is described in an observer coverage on the ad spat.
FAQs
1. Why did Dario Amodei leave OpenAI?
The company was eventually left by Amodei in 2021 because of a fundamental difference in direction of OpenAI. He wished AI safety and alignment were given more emphasis than scaling and commercialization.
2. What happened at the India AI Impact Summit 2026?
At a group photograph session with PM Modi, Amodei and Altman can be seen making hand signs, but not touching hands, which instead caused their hands to go up in fists. That clumsy video soon became viral as an example of their corporate competition.
3. Why is Anthropic mocking ChatGPT?
In recent months, AN ran a Super Bowl ad in opposition to the decision by OpenAI to provide ads in ChatGPT, with their own Claude AI as a superior, ad-free option aimed at privacy concerns.
4. What was Sam Altman’s response to the Anthropic ad?
Altman justified his approach to X by saying that providing ad-supported plans makes AI democratic to billions of individuals who would otherwise spend hundreds of dollars to subscribe.
