The FTC says partnerships like Microsoft-OpenAI raise concerns

The Federal Trade Commission said staff report suggested on Friday that there are potential challenges in the alliance between major tech companies and artificial intelligence developers – specifically, Microsoft’s support for OpenAI and Amazon and the Alphabet/Google partnership with Anthropic.

“The FTC’s report shows how collusion among major technology companies can create barriers, hinder the introduction of major AI innovations, and reveal information that could undermine fair competition,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan in a statement. words. (President-elect Donald Trump He wants to remove Khan as a chair.)

This report focuses on the services of Microsoft, Amazon, and Google as cloud service providers working with OpenAI and Anthropic; Among other things, it suggests that the partnership could affect access to computing resources and technology, increase investment in companies that work with AI developers, and could give cloud providers unique access to information.

Microsoft’s deputy general counsel Rima Alaily told Bloomberg that the company’s partnership with OpenAI “has enabled the world’s most successful AI startups and fueled unprecedented innovation and industry innovation.”