The landmark Google antitrust case has entered a critical phase as U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta considers appropriate remedies for the tech giant's illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising.
During closing arguments on May 30, 2025, Judge Mehta signaled he might favor less aggressive measures than the Department of Justice's proposed 10-year regime. "Ten years may seem like a short period, but in this space, a lot can change in weeks," Mehta remarked, referencing OpenAI's recent $6.5 billion acquisition of io, an AI device startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive.
The case has evolved to encompass artificial intelligence as a key battleground. Nick Turley, OpenAI's product head for ChatGPT, testified that OpenAI is years away from its goal of using its own search technology to answer 80% of queries. Turley stated that having access to Google's search data would significantly improve ChatGPT's capabilities. Last summer, OpenAI approached Google about a partnership to power ChatGPT but was rejected, with Google viewing the AI company as a direct competitor.
Judge Mehta questioned whether companies like OpenAI or Perplexity should be considered Google competitors who would be given access to any data Google is required to share. This distinction is crucial as the DOJ's proposed remedies would prevent Google from establishing exclusive distribution agreements for its AI programs and apps, including its Gemini chatbot.
Google has vigorously opposed the DOJ's proposals, calling them "unprecedented" and arguing they would harm consumers, the economy, and tech innovation. Google CEO Sundar Pichai testified that forcing the company to share its search data would be a "de facto divestiture" of its search engine, representing decades of investment.
The case highlights the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and search technology. While Google faces potential restrictions, OpenAI has been aggressively expanding, not only with the io acquisition but also recently purchasing AI coding tool Windsurf for $3 billion. During testimony, Turley even suggested OpenAI would be interested in buying Google Chrome if the judge ordered a breakup of Google's businesses.