PALO ALTO — By Patricia Pending, AI Bee Reel Staff

February 19, 2026

NEW DELHI, India — Two billionaires worth billions of dollars physically recoiled from the simple human act of holding hands today, leaving a visible 6-inch air gap between their palms. The executives treated the request for a unity photo like a live grenade, hovering their hands in awkward silence.

“Direct skin contact is a security risk,” said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, staring intensely at the empty space between his hand and his neighbor’s. “We have not stress-tested holding hands for safety alignment. The six-inch gap ensures no proprietary sweat is exchanged with competitors.”

“This was a calculated safety measure,” explained Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, keeping his arms stiff. “If we touch, we might accidentally merge companies or catch feelings. Keeping our hands apart protects the ecosystem from unauthorized friendship. We call it ‘Wireless Unity.'”

At press time, the executives announced a new $20 monthly subscription for users who want to see them actually touch grass.

Inspired by the real story: Two major AI CEOs refused to hold hands during a unity photo op, leaving an awkward gap onstage. Read the full story.