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The big picture. If Google is forced to sell Chrome, as suggested by the DOJ following its antitrust trial where it was ruled that the company had a monopoly, OpenAI could be a potential buyer. ChatGPT has admitted that it is interested in acquiring and transforming the world’s leading browser into a “AI-first” -like experience.
After Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google was the monopolist of online search last year the Justice Department demanded the immediate sale Chrome. This week, the remedies phase of trial began in Washington.
Nick Turley was a DOJ witness on Tuesday. He is the head of product at OpenAI for ChatGPT. He said that OpenAI contacted Google about a partnership last year that would improve ChatGPT. Turley testified that the chatbot uses Bing search data. However, Turley also mentioned there was “significant quality issues” a company called “Provider No. 1,” with which Microsoft is likely to be referring. OpenAI informed Google of the
“We believe having multiple partners, and in particular Google’s API, would enable us to provide a better product to users,” in an email revealed during the trial. Google declined the offer, believing that it could damage the company’s search lead. Turley said that OpenAI has no partnership with Google at the moment. Turley was asked if OpenAI might be interested in buying Chrome if Google were forced to sell their browser. “Yes, we would, as would many other parties,” was his reply.
Reports claimed that OpenAI would release a Chromium based web browser in November 2024 with ChatGPT integrated, which could compete with Chrome. The company hired two Chrome developers, Ben Goodger, and Darin Fisher. Both were founding members of Chrome’s team.
that if OpenAI were to purchase Chrome, it would become “AI-first” an experience. This means that OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and other OpenAI products will be tightly integrated. Data from the billions of users can also be used to train their AI systems.
This month, another judge ruled that Google had built and maintained a monopoly on key segments of online display advertising. The government could break up Google’s advertising operation as a result of the decision.
