In 2025, OpenAI publicly flagged serious competition worries linked to Google’s strong position in search and AI technologies. The company is urging regulators—especially in the European Union—to look into whether Google is using its dominance unfairly.
What Did OpenAI Say?
- OpenAI met with EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera on September 24.
- In that meeting, OpenAI highlighted how difficult it is for newer AI companies to compete when big firms control key data, infrastructure, and search traffic.
- The company specifically asked regulators to prevent user lock-in — meaning that once people choose a platform, they are tied to it, making switching harder.
- OpenAI also pointed out that the European Commission is already looking into whether vertically integrated tech platforms are extending their existing power into AI via internal agreements.
Why It Matters
Google is not only a leader in search but also heavily invested in AI technologies. That gives it advantages in:
- Access to massive user data
- Control of search traffic that funnels users to its services
- Integrating AI into its search and products, which may make competing services less visible
OpenAI’s complaint suggests that these advantages could choke out competition before it can grow.
What Regulators Are Doing
- The European Commission is already investigating how dominant platforms might extend market power into AI. India Today
- OpenAI says its arguments in private meetings mirror its public stance on fair competition in AI.
- Neither Google nor EU regulators have made detailed public responses yet.
Possible Outcomes
- Regulators may impose rules to prevent abuse of dominance in AI and search.
- Google might be required to open up access to certain data or allow more competition in AI models.
- The debate could reshape how AI companies cooperate, compete, or share infrastructure.
For now, the situation is developing. OpenAI’s move to engage antitrust regulators shows that competition issues in AI are front and center in 2025.
Summary Table
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Who raised concerns | OpenAI |
| Against which company | Google (also mentioned: Apple, Microsoft) |
| When | Meeting held on September 24, 2025 |
| Main concerns | Dominance in search, control of data, user lock-in, unfair competition |
| Regulatory forum | European Union antitrust regulators, European Commission |
| Current status | Under investigation; no final decisions yet |
| Possible effects | New rules on data access, more competition in AI and search and changes in business models |
