Democratic US senators question Google and Microsoft's AI deals

Jody Godoy

Tue, Apr 8, 2025, 3:05 AM 1 min read

By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) - Two Democratic U.S. senators demanded accusation from Microsoft and Google astir their unreality computing partnerships with artificial quality companies, expressing interest the arrangements could stifle contention successful the cutting-edge industry.

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrats connected the Senate banking and concern committees, respectively, asked Google for details astir its concern with AI startup Anthropic and Microsoft astir its tie-up with ChatGPT creator OpenAI, according to the letters.

"We are acrophobic that firm partnerships wrong the AI assemblage discourage competition, circumvent our antitrust laws, and effect successful less choices and higher prices for businesses and consumers utilizing AI tools," the senators wrote.

Spokespeople for the companies did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

The letters question to found however overmuch the AI companies person paid the unreality providers, whether the deals springiness Microsoft and Google exclusive rights to licence AI models, and whether the Big Tech companies person immoderate plans to get their AI partners.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a unit study successful January, earlier U.S. President Donald Trump took office, connected a survey into partnerships betwixt Microsoft and OpenAI, Amazon and Anthropic, and Google and Anthropic but withheld accusation circumstantial to the companies.

The study raised the anticipation that 1 unreality work supplier could get its AI partner, and said that astatine slightest 1 of the AI providers gave its unreality work supplier beforehand announcement of important decisions.

At slightest 1 of the agreements would forestall the AI institution from launching caller models connected its ain without releasing it via the unreality provider, the FTC said.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy successful New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Alex Richardson)