US investigates AI deals: Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Amazon under scrutiny.

TLDR:

• The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an inquiry into artificial intelligence (AI) deals by Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Amazon, and Anthropic.
• The inquiry will focus on the authority and rights that these tech giants’ investments in AI companies have conferred and whether these deals harm competition.
• The British Competition and Markets Authority is also conducting a similar examination.

The FTC has issued orders to five companies, including Microsoft, Google’s parent company Alphabet, Amazon, Anthropic, and OpenAI, to provide information on their generative AI investments and partnerships. The investigation aims to determine if the tech giants’ investments have distorted innovation and undermined fair competition. Microsoft, which is the largest shareholder of OpenAI following a $10 billion investment, has stated that OpenAI is not a subsidiary under its control and holds an observer, non-voting seat on OpenAI’s board. The British Competition and Markets Authority is conducting a similar examination. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and OpenAI have not responded to the request for comment as of now.