By Jody Godoy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Alphabet’s Google contemplated deals with Android phone makers such as Samsung last year that would provide exclusivity for not only its search app, but also for its Gemini AI app and Chrome browser, according to a document shown at the second day of an antitrust trial.
The U.S. Department of Justice and a broad coalition of state attorneys general are seeking an order from a judge in Washington that would require Google to sell its Chrome browser and take other measures. They hope to end what the judge found was Google’s monopoly in online search and related advertising.
In that ruling, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta found that Google protected its search monopoly through exclusive agreements with Samsung Electronics and others to have its search engine installed as the default on new devices.
Instead of entering more exclusive agreements, however, Google recently loosened its deals with device makers Samsung and Motorola and wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon, allowing them to load rival search offerings, according to documents shown at trial.
The non-exclusive agreements mirror what Google has said should be the remedy to address Mehta’s ruling. The DOJ wants the judge to go farther, banning Google from making lucrative payments in exchange for installation of its search app.
Google sent the company letters as recently as last week reiterating that their agreements did not prohibit the companies from installing other AI products on new devices, Google executive Peter Fitzgerald testified.
Prosecutors raised concerns in opening statements on Monday that Google’s search monopoly could give it advantages in AI, and that its AI products are another way to lead users to its search engine.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT head of product Nick Turley took the stand on Tuesday. He is expected to testify about how Google’s exclusive agreements make it harder to distribute AI products such as ChatGPT.
Google has said the case is not about AI, and that it faces robust competition from companies including Meta Platforms.
(Reporting by Jody Godoy in Washington, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
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