The federal government’s 2024 request additionally sought to have Google’s funding in AI companies curtailed despite the fact that this is not instantly associated to look. If, like Google, you imagine management in AI is essential to the way forward for the world, limiting its investments may additionally have an effect on nationwide safety. However in November, Mehta suggested he was open to contemplating AI cures as a result of “the current emergence of AI merchandise which can be meant to imitate the performance of engines like google” is quickly shifting the search market.
This attitude may very well be extra prone to discover supporters within the newly AI-obsessed US authorities with a quickly altering Division of Justice. Nevertheless, the DOJ has to this point opposed permitting AI agency Anthropic to take part within the case after it just lately tried to intervene. Anthropic has obtained $3 billion value of investments from Google, including $1 billion in January.
New yr, new Justice Division
Google naturally opposed the federal government’s early treatment proposal, however this occurred in November, months earlier than the incoming Trump administration started remaking the DOJ. Since taking workplace, the brand new administration has routinely criticized the tough remedy of US tech giants, taking intention at European Union legal guidelines just like the Digital Markets Act, which tries to ensure user privacy and competition amongst so-called “gatekeeper” tech corporations like Google.
We might get a greater thought of how the DOJ needs to proceed later this week when either side file their remaining proposals with Mehta. Google already announced its preferred remedy on the tail finish of 2024. It is unlikely Google’s remaining model will likely be any completely different, however every thing is up within the air for the federal government.
Even when present political realities do not have an effect on the DOJ’s method, the division’s staffing modifications may. Lots of the folks dealing with Google’s case immediately are completely different than they have been just some months in the past, so arguments that fell on deaf ears in 2024 may transfer the needle. Maybe emphasizing the nationwide safety angle will resonate with the newly restaffed DOJ.
After either side have had their say, it is going to be as much as the decide to finally rule on how Google should adapt its enterprise. This treatment part ought to get totally underway in April.