OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei brought their intensifying rivalry to the forefront during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi this week. As business and political leaders gathered onstage with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a photo op intended to symbolize unity turned into a viral moment when Altman and Amodei chose not to hold hands, instead extending their fists. This gesture underscored the competitive landscape they are navigating as they vie for dominance in the artificial intelligence sector.
Both executives have recently launched numerous initiatives in India, seeking to connect with its burgeoning digital ecosystem and a population of 1.4 billion people. OpenAI has reported that India is home to approximately 100 million weekly users of its ChatGPT platform, while Anthropic has identified the country as its second-largest market for its Claude tools.
Tensions between Altman and Amodei have been simmering since Amodei’s departure from OpenAI in 2020, a move prompted by disagreements over the company’s strategic direction. He co-founded Anthropic the following year, positioning it as a safer alternative to OpenAI. The two firms have since established themselves as titans in the AI industry, with OpenAI currently valued at $500 billion and Anthropic at $380 billion.
OpenAI has gained an early advantage in the Indian market, having established an office in New Delhi last August, whereas Anthropic announced its expansion plans in October. Anthropic is now strategically targeting the enterprise sector, highlighted by its recent partnership with Infosys to develop custom AI agents tailored for various industries, including telecommunications and financial services. In contrast, OpenAI’s approach leans heavily towards infrastructure, focusing on expanding access to its technology across India.
This week, OpenAI unveiled its “OpenAI for India” initiative, aiming to enhance nationwide access to its AI technology. A cornerstone of this initiative involves a collaboration with Tata Group’s data center business, beginning with an initial 100 megawatts of computing capacity, with plans to scale up to one gigawatt. OpenAI also announced plans to open additional offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru by 2026, increasing its total presence in India to three locations. During his keynote at the summit, Altman remarked that India is “well positioned to lead in A.I.—not just to build it, but to shape it.”
Meanwhile, Anthropic is set to open its first Indian office in Bengaluru, appointing Irina Ghose, a veteran Microsoft executive, to oversee its operations. The company is also investing in initiatives that include training its AI models in several of India’s most widely spoken languages and collaborating with the Indian government to evaluate AI’s impact on the labor market and model safety. “India is the world’s largest democracy and can be a partner and leader in addressing the global security and economic risks of the technology,” Amodei stated at the summit.
The rivalry between Altman and Amodei has become increasingly public. Earlier this month, Anthropic launched a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign during the Super Bowl that humorously targeted OpenAI’s recent decision to test advertisements in ChatGPT, a move that did not sit well with Altman, who labeled his competitor as “dishonest.”
The seemingly awkward moment at the summit, where the two executives refrained from holding hands, was later described by Altman as unintentional, stemming from confusion during the photo opportunity. Nevertheless, the symbolism was unmistakable, illustrating the deepening competition between the leaders of OpenAI and Anthropic. As both companies ramp up their efforts in India, the country is emerging as a critical battleground in the ongoing AI race.
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