Judge Weighs Google Breakup, AI Restrictions Amid Monopoly Case

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is deliberating on remedies for Google's illegal monopoly in online search, weighing between harsh penalties like breaking up the company and softer, more moderate solutions that preserve innovation. The Justice Department seeks radical changes including forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser, ban payments to device makers like Apple for default search engine status, and share search data to foster competition, especially from AI companies. However, Judge Mehta has expressed concerns about the fast-evolving AI landscape, suggesting that competition may soon come from AI-driven services rather than traditional search engines, and has indicated that lengthy oversight and restrictive measures might hinder market dynamics. Google argues that the DOJ’s proposals are excessive and could harm consumers, innovation, and U.S. technological leadership, emphasizing their long-standing innovation and market-driven success. AI startups such as OpenAI and Perplexity have testified about their struggles to compete due to Google's dominance, with OpenAI even expressing interest in acquiring Chrome if sold. The judge appears to be seeking a balanced approach that restores competition without crippling Google’s role in AI advancements, with a ruling expected by August.