EU Likely to Forego Formal Antitrust Probe into Microsoft-OpenAI Partnership

Despite ongoing scrutiny, the European Commission has found that Microsoft's $13 billion investment does not constitute a takeover, potentially easing regulatory concerns.

The European Commission's preliminary findings suggest that Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI does not meet the criteria for a formal antitrust investigation.
Microsoft asserts that its relationship with OpenAI fosters innovation and maintains independence, despite deep ties revealed between the companies.
Investigations continue into how such large-scale AI partnerships might affect competition, with other global regulators also showing interest.
Microsoft's strategic AI investments, including a recent partnership with French firm Mistral AI, highlight its commitment to expanding its AI capabilities.
The tech giant's shares have experienced slight declines amid these regulatory developments, reflecting investor sensitivity to potential antitrust actions.