US launches inquiry into AI deals by Microsoft, OpenAI, Google and Amazon

The United States trade regulator launched an inquiry on Thursday into investments and partnerships made by some of the biggest companies in the generative artificial intelligence space.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in a statement that it issued orders to five companies requiring them to provide information on the matter, including Google parent company Alphabet, Amazon, Anthropic, Microsoft and ChatGPT maker OpenAI.

The inquiry will focus on what authority and rights the tech giants’ investments in the fledgling AI companies have conferred and whether those deals harm competition, the agency’s statement said.

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