The U.S. Government: Google May Use Artificial Intelligence to Expand Its Search Monopoly
The U.S. government has accused the American company Google of potentially using artificial intelligence technologies to widen its search monopoly.
The U.S. Department of Justice explained that the historic trial against Google could lead to a radical change in the internet landscape and displace Google from its position as the leading provider of information searches.
A lawyer from the Department of Justice stated that Google needs to be subjected to strict measures to prevent it from using its own AI products to extend its dominance in online search.
The Department of Justice is seeking a court order that would require Google to sell its Chrome browser and take other measures to end what the judge deemed its monopoly on online searches.
During his opening statement, Justice Department lawyer David Dahlquist said, “It is time to inform Google and all other monopolists who are listening— and they are indeed listening— that there are consequences for violating antitrust laws.”
The Justice Department and a broad coalition of state attorneys general are pressing for solutions they believe will restore competition as search technology evolves to intersect with generative AI products like ChatGPT.
Dahlquist continued, “The solution from this court must be forward-looking and not ignore what is coming.”
He added, “Google’s monopoly on search contributes to the improvement of its AI products, which are also a means of directing users to its search engine.”
Google’s lawyer, John Schmidtlein, stated in his opening statement that the Justice Department’s proposals represent a “wish list for competitors looking to benefit from Google’s exceptional innovations.”
Schmidtlein further noted that AI competitors “also want financial support, even though they are competing well.”
This case is part of an antitrust campaign against major tech companies that began during Trump’s first administration and shows no signs of slowing, despite initiatives presented by tech companies and their executives to the White House.
Assistant Attorney General, Gail Slater, along with other antitrust officials from the Department of Justice, attended the courtroom to demonstrate that the case— initiated under Trump and continued under former President Joe Biden— proposes “neutral” solutions and has “full support from the Department of Justice in the past and present,” according to Dahlquist.
