Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O) requires strong regulatory measures to prevent it from using its artificial intelligence (AI) tools to further entrench its dominance in online search, a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney stated Monday as the historic antitrust trial kicked off.
The case has the potential to fundamentally reshape the internet by challenging Google’s longstanding role as the primary portal for online information.
The DOJ is seeking a court order that would compel Google to divest its Chrome browser and take additional steps to dismantle what a judge previously identified as a monopoly in online search. Prosecutors have likened this case to landmark antitrust actions that led to the breakups of AT&T and Standard Oil.
“Now is the time to tell Google and all other monopolists who are out there listening—and they are listening—that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws,” DOJ attorney David Dahlquist said in his opening statement.
The Justice Department, alongside a coalition of state attorneys general, is advocating for remedies they believe will reintroduce competition to the evolving search landscape—particularly as it begins to overlap with generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
“This court’s remedy should be forward-looking and not ignore what is on the horizon,” Dahlquist emphasized.
He argued that Google’s monopoly in search both benefits its AI products and, in turn, uses those AI tools to funnel users back to its search engine.
During the trial, documents revealed that Google is paying Samsung (005930.KS) a substantial monthly fee to pre-install its Gemini AI app on smartphones and other devices—a deal extendable through 2028. While the financial specifics were not disclosed, Dahlquist described the monthly sum as “enormous.”
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta has previously ruled that Google’s exclusive default search engine agreements with device manufacturers helped it maintain its monopoly.
Nick Turley, OpenAI’s product head for ChatGPT—Google's AI rival—is expected to testify on Tuesday.
In response, Google’s attorney John Schmidtlein countered in his opening statement that the DOJ’s proposed remedies amount to a “wishlist for competitors looking to get the benefits of Google’s extraordinary innovations.”
He added, “AI competitors would like handouts as well, even though they are competing just fine.”
Google contends that its AI offerings fall outside the scope of the case, which centers on search engine practices. Imposing the suggested remedies, according to Google executive Lee-Anne Mulholland in a blog post, would “hold back American innovation at a critical juncture.”
Google has indicated it will appeal any final judgment entered against it.
Antitrust officials are pushing for sweeping changes to open up the search market and allow new competitors a fair chance.
Their proposals include ending Google’s exclusive agreements with hardware manufacturers like Apple (AAPL.O), which currently make Google the default search engine on smartphones and tablets.
The DOJ also proposes that Google be required to license its search results to rival companies. If these measures fail to restore competitive balance, prosecutors suggest Google could be forced to sell its Android mobile operating system.
Google maintains that the court should simply mandate that its default agreements be non-exclusive. The company argues that eliminating payments to device manufacturers and browser developers would drive up smartphone costs and could jeopardize the financial viability of firms like Mozilla, which depend heavily on this revenue.
Google is expected to call witnesses from Mozilla, Verizon (VZ.N), and Apple—despite Apple’s failed attempt to intervene in the case.
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