Microsoft, Amazon AI partnerships face scrutiny from British regulators

Key Facts

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority on Wednesday said it was opening invitations to comment for interested third parties to give their views on major AI partnerships between Microsoft and French AI firm Mistral, and Amazon and U.S. startup Anthropic, as well as Microsoft’s hiring of former employees from Inflection AI.
An Amazon spokesperson said it was “unprecedented” for the CMA to review a collaboration of the kind that the company had agreed with Anthropic.
EARLY SCRUTINY The CMA’s early scrutiny into Microsoft’s and Amazon’s AI partnerships is another sign of how the British regulator is looking to take a tougher stance on mega U.S. technology companies, and address competition issues posed by these firms.
Correction: The article has been updated to reflect the CMA is seeking views on a partnership between Microsoft and Mistral, and a separate arrangement between Amazon and Anthropic.