Google faces antitrust investigation over deal with Character.AI

The US is investigating Google on suspicion that the tech giant violated antitrust laws when it signed an agreement to use artificial intelligence technology from the company Character.AI.

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Alphabet Inc.'s Google to see if it violated antitrust laws by signing a deal to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology from Character.AI.

Bloomberg News on May 23 quoted an anonymous source as saying that antitrust enforcers are looking into whether Google has built a deal with Character.AI to avoid formal government oversight during the merger.

In a deal with Google last year, the chatbot maker's founders joined the search company. Google also received a non-exclusive license to use the joint venture's technology.

The deal, like others Google has signed before, is seen as an effective way for companies to apply their expertise to new projects, according to the source. However, this has attracted the attention of regulators - always wary of big tech companies using their influence to block competition from new names.

In an emailed statement, Google spokesman Peter Schottenfels said the company welcomes Character.Ai's talent, but said Google currently has no ownership stake and remains a separate company. He also stressed that Google is always ready to answer any questions from regulators./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/google-doi-mat-voi-dieu-tra-chong-doc-quyen-ve-thoa-thuan-voi-characterai-post1040280.vnp