Investing.com -- The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is progressing with a comprehensive antitrust investigation into Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT), according to Bloomberg, citing individials familiar with the matter. This probe was initiated during the final days of the Biden Administration and is now being pursued by Andrew Ferguson, the new FTC Chair appointed by Donald Trump. The continued investigation indicates that Ferguson is prioritizing the examination of tech giants.
The FTC team has been actively working on this investigation in recent weeks. They have been meeting with various companies and groups to gather information.
In late 2021, the FTC issued a civil investigative demand to Microsoft, which functions similarly to a subpoena. This legal document, a copy of which Bloomberg had access to, requires Microsoft to provide extensive data about its AI operations. The FTC wants information dating back to 2016, including the costs involved in training models and obtaining data.
The FTC is also requesting details about Microsoft’s data centers, the company’s challenges in securing sufficient computing power to meet customer demands, and the firm’s software licensing practices.
The commission is further examining Microsoft’s decision to cut funding for its own artificial intelligence projects after partnering with OpenAI. This move could potentially be seen as detrimental to competition in the rapidly growing AI market.
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