Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has initiated an investigation into Amazon's recent partnership with AI startup Anthropic, aiming to assess whether the collaboration could impact market competition. This move follows the CMA's earlier probe into Alphabet's (Google's parent company) partnership with the same AI startup.
The CMA has until October 4 to decide whether the partnership warrants a more in-depth review or if it can be cleared of competition concerns. The investigation is part of a broader trend where antitrust regulators globally are scrutinizing agreements between major tech companies and emerging startups in the AI sector.
An Amazon spokesperson responded to the announcement by downplaying potential competition concerns. They emphasized that Amazon does not have a board seat or decision-making power at Anthropic, which is free to collaborate with other partners. Similarly, an Anthropic spokesperson reiterated that the company's governance and freedom to partner with other organizations remain intact despite the strategic partnership with Amazon.
The probe into Amazon's deal follows a similar investigation launched by the CMA in late July regarding Alphabet's partnership with Anthropic. These investigations reflect growing global concern about how deals between major tech giants and AI startups could affect competition and market dynamics.
Antitrust regulators are increasingly vigilant about the implications of such partnerships, particularly in the rapidly evolving and highly competitive field of artificial intelligence.
