AI technology
US regulators are scrutinizing AI deals by corporations
Microsoft had entered into a billion-dollar pact with OpenAI, the developer of the popular chatbot ChatGPT. photo
© Matt Rourke/AP/dpa
The trade authority FTC wants to examine what influence the tech companies’ AI agreements had on the development of new products.
The billion-dollar ones Deals through which tech giants gained access to new AI technology from start-ups are being targeted by US regulators.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requested more information about such agreements from Microsoft, Amazon and Google parent Alphabet. Among other things, they want to investigate the question of whether investments by “dominant companies” could distort competition, explained FTC boss Lina Khan on Thursday.
More competition in the tech industry
Microsoft had entered into a billion-dollar pact with OpenAI, the developer of the popular chatbot ChatGPT. This gave the software giant access to the technology behind ChatGPT and is now integrating it into all of its products on a large scale. The deal brought OpenAI much-needed money and computing resources. Last year, Amazon and Google also signed agreements with OpenAI competitor Anthropic.
Khan has made it his mission to ensure more competition in the American tech industry and to limit the market power of the tech giants. Requests for information about the deals also went to OpenAI and Anthropic. Among other things, the FTC wants to know what influence the agreements had on the development of new products. It also collects data on market share and competition for computing resources.