The remedy phase of Google’s antitrust trial has commenced, with the government aiming to restructure Google’s operations following its classification as a search monopolist. The Department of Justice is pushing for various penalties, the most significant being the potential sale of Chrome. OpenAI has expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, according to an executive.
Nick Turley, the product head for ChatGPT at OpenAI, participated as a witness during the trial’s second day. While his focus wasn’t solely on Chrome, the government’s proposed solutions include compelling Google to share its search index with competitors.
OpenAI is already partnered with Microsoft, but Bing’s search data has proven insufficient, Turley implied (without directly referencing Microsoft). “We believe having multiple partners, and particularly access to Google’s API, would allow us to offer a superior product to users,” OpenAI communicated to Google in an email disclosed during the trial. Nonetheless, Google rejected OpenAI’s proposal, citing concerns that it would jeopardize its search dominance. Currently, there is no partnership between the two companies, but Turley emphasized that mandating Google to license its search data could reinstate competitive dynamics.
(Source: Ars Technica)
