The India AI Impact Summit was designed to showcase India’s technological prowess and position the country as a global leader in inclusive, safe, and responsible artificial intelligence. India became the centre of global AI conversation and more. It also drew attention for some unexpected moments that were hardly about tech or artificial intelligence.
On Thursday an on-stage moment between rival AI leaders and the cancellation of American philanthropist Bill Gates’s keynote address also led to much buzz on the social media.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi present, the spotlight shifted to past rivalries when after the keynote session on Thursday global tech leaders were invited on stage for a group photograph. Among them were Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, and Alexandr Wang. While others joined hands in a show of unity, Altman and Amodei appeared visibly uncomfortable. Instead of linking hands like the rest, the two raised clenched fists, breaking the chain. Images of the awkward moment—CEOs of rival AI firms refusing to hold hands—quickly went viral, sparking jokes and commentary across social media.
Amodei left OpenAI over concerns that the company was moving too quickly toward commercialisation while neglecting safety. He later founded Anthropic with a safety-first focus. Altman, in contrast, is about expanding AI access to billions of users, pushing commercialisation and even advertising models. The rivalry intensified when both companies launched competing coding tools within minutes of each other.
Gates, meanwhile, cancelled his keynote address hours before he was scheduled to speak.
The Gates Foundation said the decision followed “careful consideration” to ensure the focus remained on the summit’s priorities. “The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit,” the Foundation said in a post on X. “After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address.” The Foundation added that it remains fully committed to its work in India to advance shared health and development goals.
The cancellation came amid renewed scrutiny of Gates’s past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—associations he reportedly previously described as a “huge mistake.” Sources said the summit was central to Prime Minister Modi’s push to position India as a global tech heavyweight, and organisers reportedly expressed discomfort over the controversy. Besides, had Gates participated, the opposition would have had a field day.
Gates had arrived in India on Monday, beginning his visit in Vijayawada, where he met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, and senior state officials. Ministers welcomed him at the Airport. However, the grand reception drew criticism online due to posts linking Gates to Epstein.
On Tuesday, his name was removed from the February 19 keynote list at Bharat Mandapam, where he had been allotted a 12-minute speaking slot. The controversy follows the recent release of emails by the U.S. Department of Justice that included communications between Epstein and foundation staff. Sources said the key participant list had been finalised months in advance. While Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein’s victims, released records include an allegation by Epstein that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease—an allegation Gates’s spokesperson previously called “absolutely absurd.”