AI Wins the Google Antitrust Suit

A judge declines to break up the company, as artificial intelligence transforms search

WSJ editorial. Excerpts:

"The Justice Department wanted Google to divest its Chrome browser and Android operating system, as well as bar the search giant from paying for default placement on devices and internet browsers, among other measures."

"as Judge Mehta explained Tuesday, the government “overreached in seeking forced divestiture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints.” He criticized the government for seeking to re-engineer tech and advertising markets rather than remedy anti-competitive practices."

"while Google was a monopoly, it had achieved it mainly through innovation and investment"

"the monopoly was beneficial to consumers."

"the judge found that many of the Justice Department’s proposed remedies would have harmed competition and consumers."

"Users can switch to other search engines if they want."

"Google will have to continue to invest billions and innovate in this highly competitive space just to keep up" [with AI]

"crippling Google will make the AI market less competitive." 

"Trump complains about foreign governments trying to shackle U.S. tech companies, yet his Administration wants to use antitrust policy to do the same."