The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Thursday that it has initiated an investigation into the multibillion-dollar investments made by Microsoft, Google, and Amazon in the emerging companies OpenAI and Anthropic, both specializing in generative artificial intelligence. According to the French news agency, AFP, FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan stated in a release, “New technologies can create new markets and healthy competition. But we must be alert to tactics that undermine these opportunities.”
The investigation will specifically focus on the investments made by Microsoft in the startup OpenAI and by Amazon and Google in Anthropic, a direct competitor to OpenAI. The inquiry is expected to uncover information related to the companies’ strategies, the consequences of launching new products, and the impact on market shares and resource accessibility for these advanced computer systems that require sophisticated electronic components.
In response to this decision, a spokesperson for Google commented, “We hope that the names of companies that do not allow Google Cloud or have a long history of restricting customers and adopting the same approach in AI-related services will be revealed.”
Google argued that Microsoft seeks to build a closed and exclusive system using the AI model pioneered by OpenAI. In contrast, Google’s cloud platform allows the use of around 100 different language models. This move by the FTC reflects a growing scrutiny of major tech companies’ investments and acquisitions, especially in areas where artificial intelligence plays a crucial role.
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