OpenAI vs Anthropic: A Rivalry in the Spotlight at India AI Impact Summit
At the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, a brief on-stage moment between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei drew widespread attention.
The two executives stood side by side alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, and other technology leaders. Both Altman and Amodei had delivered keynote speeches at the event.
When Modi lifted the hands of Altman and Pichai before an applauding audience prompting others on stage to follow. Altman and Amodei did not link hands with each other. Instead, they raised their fists while holding hands with the individuals on their opposite sides.
The image quickly circulated on social media, with founders, investors, and industry observers commenting on the visible restraint between the two AI leaders.
A Rivalry in Plain Sight
OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude are competing to become the default AI model for consumers and enterprise users globally. Both companies have raised billions of dollars as they compete for market share. The rivalry has also recently spilt into public exchanges over advertising.
Last month, Anthropic aired Super Bowl commercials that poked fun at OpenAI’s reported plans to test advertisements for free ChatGPT users and ChatGPT Go subscribers in the United States. Altman responded by calling the ads ‘clearly dishonest,’ adding: ‘I guess it’s on brand for Anthropic doublespeak to use a deceptive ad to critique theoretical deceptive ads that aren’t real, but a Super Bowl ad is not where I would expect it.’
Anthropic’s chief customer officer, Paul Smith, later told CNBC that the company was focused on growing its business rather than making ‘flashy headlines,’ in what appeared to be a veiled criticism of OpenAI. Speaking at the summit after the group photo, Altman told CNBC: ‘We still have some work to do to figure out the exact ad format that’s going to work best.’
Different Approaches to AI Risk
Beyond the photo moment, both executives addressed substantive AI concerns in their speeches. Amodei spoke about what he described as ‘serious risks’ tied to artificial intelligence, including:
- Autonomous behaviour of advanced AI systems
- Potential misuse by individuals or governments
- Economic disruption and displacement
Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers including Amodei, has positioned itself as a ‘safety-first’ AI company after disagreements over OpenAI’s direction. Altman, in contrast, framed AI safety through what he described as ‘societal resilience,’ arguing that responsibility for positive AI outcomes cannot rest with a single company. ‘We believe no AI lab can deliver a good future on their own,’ Altman said during his remarks.
A Symbolic but Limited Moment
The brief decision not to link hands will not determine the trajectory of the AI industry. However, it provided a visible snapshot of the competitive dynamic between two of the sector’s most influential companies.
As OpenAI and Anthropic continue to compete for users, enterprise contracts, and global influence, even small public gestures can attract outsized attention in an industry shaping the future of artificial intelligence. The companies remain key players in a rapidly evolving and closely watched market.
Originally published on IBTimes UK
