EU Antitrust Regulators Probe Google-Samsung AI Deal for Potential Anti-Competitive Practices

EU antitrust regulators are scrutinizing a multi-year deal between Google and Samsung over concerns that it may hinder rival chatbots on Samsung smartphones, according to an EU document seen by Reuters. The European Commission is seeking to understand the impact of this deal, which would see Samsung integrate Google’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Gemini Nano, into its upcoming Galaxy S24 series smartphones.

Last month, the European Commission announced plans to request information from industry participants to gauge the deal’s effects on market competition. This initiative could potentially lead to the EU building a case against Google and Samsung if any anti-competitive practices are identified.

The questionnaire distributed by the regulators inquires whether the pre-installation of Gemini Nano on Samsung devices, either directly or via the cloud, restricts the presence of other generative AI systems. Additionally, regulators are interested in whether this pre-installation affects the interoperability between other chatbots and apps pre-installed on Samsung smartphones.

Related: EU Scrutinizes Microsoft, Google, and Samsung AI Deals

According to Reuters, the questionnaire also asks respondents if they have attempted but failed to secure agreements with device manufacturers for the pre-installation of their chatbots. Respondents are requested to provide detailed reasons for any rejections they have faced.

Industry participants have until this week to respond to the comprehensive eight-page questionnaire.

This investigation marks another step in the EU’s ongoing efforts to regulate major tech companies and ensure a competitive digital market landscape. The outcome of this inquiry could have significant implications for the integration of AI technologies in consumer electronics and the competitive dynamics within the tech industry.

Source: Reuters