After London, Brussels is taking a close interest in the close relations between OpenAI, publisher of ChatGPT, and Microsoft, its main shareholder. In a press release, the European Commission laconically indicates that it wants to verify whether the investment of the Redmond firm in OpenAI “ may be subject to review under the EU Merger Regulation.
This approach is part of a broader call for contributions from the European executive to ensure that competition remains guaranteed in the new markets for virtual worlds, starting with the metaverse, and AI. generative.
While generative AI systems are still emerging, “ it has become clear that they can exhibit certain characteristics – network effects, lack of multihoming…. – leading to entrenched market positions and potentially harmful competition. »
“Virtual worlds and generative AI are growing rapidlyfor her part declared Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president of the Commission in charge of competition policy. It is fundamental that these new markets remain competitive and that nothing stands in the way of business growth and the provision of the best and most innovative products to consumers. »
A “killer acquisition”?
Contributors have until March 11 to shed their light on the subject. At this stage, Brussels does not indicate whether this is a first step before a possible antitrust investigation. Pressure surge? This announcement comes in any case during Margrethe Vestager’s visit to Silicon Valley where she will meet the leaders of several big techs.
Brussels could be interested in other agreements concluded in the world of generative AI such as those concluded by AWS and Google with Anthropic, creator of Claude AI and main competitor of OpenAI.
With regard to Microsoft-OpenAI, the question will be whether the capital links between the two companies have not led to a de facto merger. As part of the “extended partnership” signed in early 2023, Microsoft has invested more than $13 billion over several years in the Californian unicorn.
As recalled The echoes, Microsoft also presents itself as the “exclusive provider” of OpenAI in the cloud. Not only do the AI models run in Azure, its public cloud, but the digital giant has integrated ChatGPT into its office environment – Windows 11, Microsoft 365 – via its Copilot AI intelligent assistant.
It’s a “killer acquisition” as denounced by a group of seven tech associations. In a press release, they believe that the “partnership” between Microsoft and OpenAI risks, without regulatory intervention, compromising fair competition in the AI market. Microsoft’s exclusive or at least privileged access to OpenAI technologies would block market access to new entrants.
Procedures also launched in London and Washington
No one has, moreover, forgotten the tragicomic episode of a weekend in November which saw Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, ousted from his board of directors, before being hired into the followed by Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, who suggested that he start a new team. The manager was reinstated in his role at OpenAI 72 hours later. A governance crisis which had highlighted the strong links between the two companies.
This announcement from the European Commission comes a month after the opening of a procedure by the Competition and Markets Authority. Similarly, the British competition authority had launched a call for contributions. According to Bloomberg, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also examining links between Microsoft and OpenAI.