DOJ slams Google over AI-powered search monopoly: Will it sell Chrome browser?

The antitrust trial against Google began today. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) argued that the company must be prevented from using its artificial intelligence (AI) products to further strengthen its dominance in online search.

This trial could revolutionise how the internet operates and undermine Google’s dominance as the top search engine. The DOJ has demanded action to dismantle Google’s monopoly over internet search.

One of the prosecutors in the case stated that Google’s dominance over search engines, backed by its strong AI technologies, has unjustly enabled the company to retain its market leadership.

The government is seeking a court order that would compel Google to sell off its Chrome browser and end its exclusive arrangements with firms such as Samsung in order to make Google’s AI and search tools default.

“Now is the time to tell Google and all other monopolists who are out there listening, and they are listening, that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws,” David Dahlquist, the DOJ attorney, said.

“This court’s remedy should be forward-looking and not ignore what is on the horizon,” the DOJ attorney added. He stated that Google’s search monopoly directly impacts the development of its AI products, giving Google an unfair advantage.

WILL GOOGLE SELL CHROME BROWSER?

However, Google contended that since its AI products primarily target search engines, they shouldn’t be considered in this case.

In response, Google’s lawyer, John Schmidtlein, called the DOJ’s requests a “wishlist” from competitors who want to benefit from Google’s innovations without putting in the work.

Google argues that its AI products are outside the scope of the case, which focused on search engines. Adopting the proposed remedies “would hold back American innovation at a critical juncture,” Google executive Lee-Anne Mulholland said in a blog post on Sunday.

The company has said it will appeal once a final judgment is entered.

Google said the court should stick to making its default agreements non-exclusive.

The case is part of an antitrust crackdown on big tech started during the first Trump administration that shows no signs of slowing, despite overtures tech companies and their executives have made to the White House.

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