The moment unfolded after Modi’s address, when he invited executives on stage to join hands and raise them aloft. Altman and Amodei, however, stood side by side with their raised fists kept conspicuously apart, breaking the chain. Summit draws investment, faces disruptionsThe summit, despite organisational lapses, a robot-related controversy and complaints of traffic chaos, secured more than $200 billion in investment pledges. However, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates pulled out hours before his scheduled keynote address, dealing a blow to the high-profile gathering. What was intended as a staged moment of solidarity instead highlighted the deep competitive fissures shaping the global artificial intelligence industry.

Source: The Telegraph February 19, 2026 10:13 UTC