What Happened at the India AI Summit? 2026

Sam Altman Recalls Awkward Onstage Moment with PM Narendra Modi at India AI Summit 2026

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that he felt “confused” and “uncomfortable” during a widely circulated onstage moment with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

Speaking in an interview with Moneycontrol, Altman described the unexpected interaction that unfolded before an audience of global technology leaders gathered to discuss AI policy, emerging models, and the broader societal impact of AI.

“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,” Altman said.

https://twitter.com/Amockx2022/status/2024499352807559666

Viral Photo Opportunity Draws Attention

While the summit was designed to bring together some of the world’s most influential voices in artificial intelligence, its most talked-about moment was not a keynote announcement or product reveal. Instead, it was a staged onstage interaction involving a 14-person hand-holding formation that quickly went viral online.

"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

The moment — seemingly intended to symbolize unity and cooperation in the global AI ecosystem — was widely interpreted on social media as awkward and overly choreographed. Critics argued that the photo opportunity shifted attention away from the summit’s policy discussions toward political optics.

Reactions came from both international observers and Indian social media users, some of whom described the scene as a stage-managed spectacle more typical of political events than global technology forums.

AI Leaders Appear Hesitant

Also present on stage was Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who appeared alongside Altman in the viral footage. In clips circulating online, both executives seemed hesitant to participate in the hand-holding chain fully. Instead, they briefly raised their fists in what observers described as an awkward compromise that disrupted the intended pose.

– He is Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

– Went to many summits & Conclaves

– For the 1st time he was forced to raise hand as if it was an Election rally

– You can see the discomfort & awkwardness on his face and body language

All this coz Modi wanted to be the Centre of Attraction pic.twitter.com/ASi73OSofD

— Nehr_who? (@Nher_who) February 19, 2026

The hesitation drew particular attention, given the prominence of the two companies involved. Amodei, a former OpenAI executive, left the organization to co-found Anthropic — now widely regarded as one of OpenAI’s closest competitors in the race to develop advanced AI systems.

The interaction has since become one of the most discussed moments from the summit, underscoring how even carefully planned public gestures can take on unintended meanings in high-profile global forums.