OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently experienced a highly awkward moment with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident took place at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The event gathered top global AI figures to discuss regulations, new models, and societal impacts. However, a staged photo opportunity quickly overshadowed the actual tech discussions.
A Staged Photo Op Goes Wrong
Organisers steered senior AI leaders into a 14-person hand-holding pose on stage. They intended to project unity. Instead, the move produced a forced and uncomfortable spectacle. Furthermore, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei visibly disrupted the pose. They actively resisted joining the hand-holding chain. Consequently, they raised their fists in an awkward compromise.
WTF is Modi doing
Check Sam Altman’s expression
Cringe overload
Everything seems to be an election rally for Modi pic.twitter.com/3D8jtJsgJH
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) February 19, 2026
Interestingly, this hesitation highlighted the fierce rivalry between their companies. Amodei previously worked at OpenAI before leaving to co-found Anthropic, making them direct competitors in the AI space.
Sam Altman: “I Was Confused”
Altman later shared his direct perspective on the viral incident. During an interview, he admitted feeling entirely out of place. Altman stated:
I didn’t know what was happening on stage. I was confused. He (Modi) grabbed my hand, and I was wondering what we were supposed to do.
“I didn’t know what was happening on stage. I was confused. He (Modi) grabbed my hand and i was wondering what we were supposed to do”
– Sam Altman 😭😭
People are literally laughing. How long will we tolerate this just for one man’s PR? pic.twitter.com/7DVdfn1PnD
— Amock_ (@Amockx2022) February 19, 2026
Severe Online Backlash
Meanwhile, the video clip went viral across the internet. It immediately sparked widespread ridicule. Critics accused Modi of hijacking a global AI gathering. They claimed he turned the professional event into a personal optics exercise resembling a political election rally.
Additionally, the fierce reaction extended far beyond international observers. Many Indian users also voiced their embarrassment online. They heavily criticised the spectacle, officially calling it out as a political, stage-managed moment that distracted from the summit’s core substance.
Never misses an opportunity to embarass the country on world stage.
🤧 pic.twitter.com/53uAEWBaUa— Vini Kohli (@vinikkohli) February 19, 2026
