Google has offered a settlement proposal to resolve an antitrust case in India. The investigation found that Google’s agreements with smart TV manufacturers potentially violated the country’s competition laws. This would be the first instance of a company using India’s new settlement scheme, which allows for reduced penalties.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking feedback on potential competition breaches involving high-profile partnerships between Microsoft, Amazon, and other tech and AI firms. Microsoft’s collaboration with Mistral AI, Amazon’s investment in Anthropic, and Microsoft’s hiring of Inflection AI talent are under investigation. The CMA is concerned about a web of alliances and investments that could lead to an unhealthy concentration of power in the AI industry. Foundation Models have the potential to significantly impact various sectors of the UK economy, and the CMA is committed to ensuring fair competition in this space.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has invited third parties to comment on the potential competition concerns raised by partnerships and investments between Big Tech firms and smaller AI companies. These include Microsoft’s partnerships with Mistral AI and OpenAI, as well as Amazon’s partnership with Anthropic. The CMA is also looking into Microsoft’s hiring of former Inflection AI employees and its plans to license AI software. The CMA’s announcement follows a report that identified over 90 partnerships and investments in the AI sector that could potentially impact competition.
British competition regulators are investigating recent deals by Microsoft and Amazon, expressing concerns about potential anti-competitive effects in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is examining Microsoft’s partnership with Mistral AI and the hiring of staff from Inflection AI, as well as Amazon’s $4 billion investment in Anthropic. The watchdog is seeking comments from third parties before determining if further antitrust investigations are warranted.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expressed concerns over Tapestry’s proposed $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri, citing potential harm to consumers and employees. According to the FTC, the merger would eliminate competition between six brands: Tapestry’s Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, and Capri’s Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, and Versace. The FTC alleges that the deal would result in higher prices, fewer choices, and reduced employee benefits. Tapestry has defended the acquisition, arguing that it operates in a competitive market and that the merger would not harm consumers or employees.
