Digest: Google Experiments with AI-Only Search Engine; EU Pushes Back on US Antitrust Regulation Criticism

Today's news digest looks at Google experimenting with a new AI-only search feature, the EU pushing back on criticism from the US over its antitrust regulation, as well as the Competition and Markets Authority deciding against formally investigating Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI.

Google Experiments with AI-Only Search Engine

Google has launched an experimental version of its search engine which exclusively features AI-generated content instead of bringing up the well-known list of blue links. Queries are responded to with a more comprehensive AI summary, along with links to cited webpages. The list of links has been replaced by a search bar allowing users to ask further follow-up questions. The feature is available to subscribers of Google One AI Premium which costs just under USD$20 (£15.49) per month; users can access it by enabling “AI Mode” via the results page. According to Robby Stein, the company’s product vice president, power users “want AI responses for even more of their searches”. 

EU Pushes Back on US Antitrust Regulation Criticism

EU lawmakers have written to top US officials following their criticism of the EU’s antitrust regulation, pushing back on the idea that they are using digital competition rules to treat tech giants in the US unfairly, reports the WSJ. The letter, signed by nine members of the European parliament, was sent last week to US Department of Justice officials Pamela Bondi and Howard Lutnick. It suggests that both countries should align their efforts and work together to take on big tech, as well as stating that the US’ claims regarding EU laws being used to undermine relations are unfounded.  

UK Watchdog Gives Green Light to Microsoft and OpenAI Partnership

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority announced it will not be carrying out a formal investigation into Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI. The watchdog’s document summarising its decision states that “the CMA does not consider there has been a change of control by Microsoft from material influence to de facto control over OpenAI.” In order to reach the decision, the CMA said that it considered a range of evidence including submissions and responses to information requests from Microsoft and OpenAI, as well as internal documents regarding the developments in OpenAI’s governance and how their partnership has operated in practice over time.