A federal judge’s antitrust case against Google has evolved into a debate about the future of artificial intelligence, according to reporting by David McCabe in The New York Times. The lawsuit, originally focused on Google’s search monopoly, now centers on whether the tech giant could leverage its dominance to control the emerging AI landscape.
During recent hearings, Justice Department lawyers argued that Google might use the same monopolistic tactics from search to make its Gemini chatbot ubiquitous. Google executives revealed internal discussions about expanding Gemini’s reach, while rival AI companies testified that Google’s market power hinders their success.
The government has proposed remedies including forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser and share data with competitors. OpenAI executive Nicholas Turley testified that access to Google’s data would allow his company to “build a better product faster,” and even expressed interest in purchasing Chrome if it became available.
Google counters that the AI market is already competitive, pointing to ChatGPT’s widespread usage. CEO Sundar Pichai testified that consumers are actively experimenting with multiple chatbot applications.
Judge Amit P. Mehta’s decision could significantly impact the AI industry’s competitive landscape. Google’s Gemini already has over 350 million monthly active users according to trial data, making it a dominant player whose business practices could shape the future of how people access information online.