In a recent LinkedIn post, Linas Beliūnas discusses the apparent paradox within the artificial intelligence industry, where leading companies are racing towards advanced AI models while their founders exhibit a distinct lack of collaboration. Beliūnas uses a striking anecdote from the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi to illustrate his point, describing the founders of OpenAI and Anthropic, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei respectively, as “refusing to hold hands.” This imagery, Beliūnas suggests, “pretty much sums up the state of AI today.”
The post delves into the significant financial and developmental divergence between these two major AI players. Beliūnas points out that Amodei, who departed OpenAI in 2021 due to safety concerns, went on to co-found Anthropic, a company now valued at an impressive $380 billion. Despite this history and the immense valuations, both companies are actively engaged in building cutting-edge AI models.
The AI Development Race
Beliūnas highlights the simultaneous pursuit of advanced AI capabilities by both OpenAI and Anthropic. While these entities are at the forefront of developing what are termed “frontier models,” they also publicly advocate for global cooperation in AI governance and development. This juxtaposition forms the core of Beliūnas’s observation.
“Today, both companies are racing to build frontier models while publicly calling for global coordination.”
According to Beliūnas, this dynamic creates a significant tension within the industry. The technological paths of AI models themselves appear to be converging, suggesting a potential commonality in their underlying development or objectives. However, the human element, represented by the founders and leadership of these organizations, remains divided.
Founders’ Disconnect
The crux of Beliūnas’s argument lies in the disconnect between the collaborative rhetoric and the competitive actions of key figures in the AI space. He states unequivocally, “The founders? Not so much.” This succinct observation underscores the perceived lack of personal or strategic alignment among the leaders driving some of the world’s most powerful AI initiatives.
“AI models are converging. The founders? Not so much.”
Beliūnas’s post serves as a commentary on the complex landscape of AI development, characterized by intense competition, substantial financial stakes, and ongoing debates about safety and coordination. The scenario he presents at the AI Impact Summit encapsulates the broader industry narrative: a race towards powerful AI, yet a struggle for genuine unity among its architects.
In a postscript, Beliūnas also shared a link to a project where he utilized AI, specifically referencing Claude, to build an AI operating system for a startup, suggesting practical applications and personal engagement with the technology he is analyzing.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Linas Beliūnas on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on February 19, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →