In August, a U.S. Google has a monopoly in the search engine business, according to a court ruling. As the company appeals, the DOJ is weighing penalties. These include separating Google Chrome from its parent company.The DOJ is investigating. It seeks testimony from Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s chief business officer. Perplexity is a $9 billion AI search firm. Perplexity is skyrocketing.
Court filings say the DOJ wants to question Shepelenko. They want to know generative AI’s impact on “Search Access Point,” market entry, expansion, and data sharing. “Search Access Point” refers to platforms like Google Chrome, where users initiate online searches. Generative AI tools like Perplexity and Chat GPT are challenging traditional search engines. They provide direct answers to complex questions.
In response to new competition, Google introduced AI features. One is “AI Overviews,” which show AI-generated summaries above the search results. The DOJ may use Perplexity’s views to argue that Google’s practices hurt competition and stifle innovation. This could justify harsher penalties. Both Perplexity and Google have yet to comment on the matter. Perplexity AI is at the center of a legal battle.
Both sides of an antitrust dispute involving Google seek information from the company. In October, Google subpoenaed Perplexity. It sought documents to prove it faces competition in the search market. Similar subpoenas were also sent to Microsoft and Open AI.Two months have passed, but Perplexity has provided no documents. So, Google filed a complaint on December 11.
Google criticized the delay. It said there is “no conceivable justification” for withholding the requested information. Perplexity, however, claims it has agreed to fulfill 12 of Google’s 14 document requests. It argues that the remaining demands involve a “burden.” It is about collecting extensive data, including licensing agreements for AI training. Perplexity noted that Google is asking for all its licensing agreements. It believes that is overly broad. The company wants to discuss with Google to narrow the request.
