Judge Mehta to decide Google’s market future after pivotal DOJ court battle

Google faces a decisive moment as Judge Mehta prepares to rule on the US Justice Department's efforts to curb the tech giant's dominance amid a transformative AI shift.

The DOJ argues that AI alone wont limit Googles power, pushing for legal measures including forcing Google to divest its Chrome browser to reduce its grip on internet access.

"The rise of artificial intelligence is poised to further solidify the tech giants control over internet access," government attorneys claim.

Google counters, urging the court to reject divestiture demands, emphasizing its ongoing AI integration to maintain its search engines leading position despite competition from OpenAI and Perplexity.

Apple, a key ally, earns over USD 20 billion annually by making Google the default search engine on iPhones and opposes the DOJs proposed 10-year ban on such agreements.

The DOJ disputes Googles defense, highlighting that Apple sought more flexibility in default browser settings but was denied, underscoring Googles control.

"Apple, despite receiving billions to make Chrome the default browser on iPhones, 'repeatedly asked for more flexibility' but was denied by Google," said DOJ attorney David Dahlquist.

The case marks a pivotal phase in the high-stakes legal battle over the future structure of Googles market power, with Judge Mehtas decision set to shape the internets competitive landscape.

Judge Mehta will decide Google’s market future after a critical DOJ court battle over its dominance and AI-driven power. The Justice Department seeks legal restraints, including divesting Chrome, while Google and allies like Apple oppose these moves amid a shifting AI landscape reshaping internet access.