US Justice Department abandons attempt to make Google divest AI acquisitions in antitrust case

From Investing.com: 2025-03-07 19:16:00

The US Justice Department has abandoned its efforts to force Google to divest its artificial intelligence acquisitions as part of an antitrust lawsuit. The case, filed last year, accused Google of illegally maintaining a monopoly in search and search advertising. The decision to drop the divestiture demand comes as the case enters its final stages.

The lawsuit against Google is one of the largest antitrust cases in recent history and is seen as a major test of the government’s ability to rein in the power of big tech companies. The Justice Department had argued that Google’s acquisitions of AI companies had harmed competition in the digital advertising market. Google has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight the charges.

The decision to drop the divestiture demand is a significant development in the case and could impact the outcome of the lawsuit. The trial is set to begin in September and is expected to last several weeks. Google is facing increased scrutiny from regulators around the world over its dominance in online search and advertising.

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence in recent years, acquiring several AI companies to bolster its capabilities in areas such as voice recognition and natural language processing. The company’s AI investments are seen as a key part of its strategy to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving tech industry.



Read more at Investing.com: US drops bid to make Google sell AI investments in antitrust case