The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into several leading technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Alphabet. This probe is centred around their investments and partnerships in the field of generative artificial intelligence.

The FTC’s executive order compelling these companies to submit detailed information marks a proactive step towards understanding the influence of these alliances on the competitive environment.

What’s particularly intriguing is the FTC’s interest in the data these firms share with other government entities, including foreign institutions. The agency’s authority empowers it to compel companies to submit specific reports and responses about their operations.

FTC Chair Lina Khan has articulated the purpose of these inquiries, describing them as a market study into the investments and partnership relationships between AI developers and major cloud service providers. 

These organizations adopt various approaches to AI development and utilization, including forming partnerships and direct investments in AI developers to access technologies and necessary resources. For instance, Microsoft commented on its partnership with independent companies like OpenAI, emphasizing how such collaborations foster competition and accelerate innovation.