Big Tech’s AI Ambitions Under U.S. Regulatory Spotlight
The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have agreed to split antitrust investigations into Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia—three titans shaping the future of artificial intelligence. The move signals growing concerns over market dominance in the rapidly evolving AI sector. 🌐🤖
Why It Matters
Nvidia, now the world’s second-most-valuable company with a $3 trillion market cap, controls ~80% of AI chips. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI and its unusual hiring deal with Inflection AI are under FTC scrutiny. Critics argue such partnerships might dodge merger reviews. 💰🔍
Behind the Split
The DOJ will focus on Nvidia’s potential antitrust violations, while the FTC probes OpenAI and Microsoft. This echoes 2019’s Big Tech crackdown, where Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Google faced similar heat. 'Structures in AI should give us pause,' warned DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter at a Stanford conference. 🛑💡
What’s Next?
Microsoft says it complies with legal obligations, but the FTC is examining its $650 million Inflection AI deal. OpenAI, already under a July 2023 FTC probe over data risks, declined to comment. With AI’s reliance on data and computing power, regulators fear entrenched advantages for giants. ⚖️🚀
TL;DR: U.S. regulators are taking aim at tech’s AI power players. Stay tuned—this could reshape the industry. 📉✨
