Microsoft Could Face Justice Department, FTC Probes Over Investment In ChatGPT Parent OpenAI
Portfolio Pulse from Chris Katje
Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:MSFT) $10-billion investment in OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, is potentially facing probes by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission over antitrust concerns. The agencies are discussing which one should investigate the partnership, as both have shown interest and do not want to relinquish jurisdiction. The deal was not reported for antitrust review, and the hiring of OpenAI's CEO by Microsoft has raised additional concerns. The FTC is also investigating OpenAI over consumer privacy issues, while the UK's Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission have expressed antitrust concerns. Microsoft's stock is trading at all-time highs, reflecting the success of its AI investments.

January 19, 2024 | 8:24 pm
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Microsoft's investment in OpenAI may lead to antitrust investigations by DOJ and FTC, which could impact the company's future AI market position and investor sentiment.
The potential for antitrust investigations by the DOJ and FTC into Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI introduces regulatory risk, which could lead to legal challenges, fines, or restrictions on their AI operations. This uncertainty may negatively affect investor sentiment and the stock price in the short term. However, the current all-time high stock price suggests that the market has not yet reacted negatively to this news.
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