OpenAI has expressed interest in acquiring Google’s Chrome browser if antitrust regulators succeed in forcing the Alphabet-owned company to divest the popular web tool, as part of efforts to restore fair competition in the online search market. The revelation came during testimony from Nick Turley, Head of Product for ChatGPT, at the ongoing antitrust trial against Google in Washington. Reports Technology News
The trial, led by the U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking sweeping changes to break Google’s dominance in search. A federal judge previously ruled that Google maintains a monopoly in the online search and search advertising markets. Although Chrome is not currently up for sale, Google intends to challenge the monopoly ruling on appeal.
As the high-stakes trial unfolds, it’s also shedding light on the broader generative AI landscape, where major tech firms and startups are racing to build cutting-edge applications and attract users. In their opening arguments, prosecutors raised concerns that Google’s stronghold in search could give it an unfair edge in AI development, potentially using AI services to funnel users back to its search engine.
In response, Google has emphasized the growing competition in the generative AI space, pointing to rival offerings from tech giants like Meta and Microsoft.
