OpenAI Expresses Interest in Acquiring Google Chrome if Split Mandated

An OpenAI executive testified on Tuesday at Google's antitrust trial in Washington that if antitrust enforcers are successful in forcing the Alphabet unit to sell the popular web browser in order to restore search competition, the company would be interested in purchasing Chrome.

ChatGPT's head of product, Nick Turley, made the statement while testifying at a trial in Washington, where the US Department of Justice seeks to compel Google to take far-reaching steps to restore competition in online search.

Last year, the judge overseeing the trial determined that Google has a monopoly on online search and advertising.

Google has not put Chrome up for sale. The company intends to appeal the ruling that it has a monopoly.

The start of the high-stakes trial provided a glimpse into the generative AI race, in which Big Tech companies and startups compete to build out their apps and gain users.

Prosecutors expressed concern in their opening statements on Monday that Google's search monopoly could give it an advantage in AI, and that its AI products are yet another way to direct users to its search engine.

Google has cited competition among companies offering generative AI products, including Meta Platforms and Microsoft.

According to an internal OpenAI document presented by Google's lawyer at trial, Turley wrote last year that ChatGPT was the market leader in consumer chatbots and did not see Google as its primary competitor. He testified that the document was intended to inspire OpenAI employees, and that the company would continue to benefit from distribution partnerships.