Microsoft's $13 billion investment in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, may face a merger investigation by the European Union after a controversy over OpenAI exposed deep ties between the two companies, according to news search results.
The European Commission said it was examining Microsoft's involvement under black merger rules and whether it could hinder fair competition in the fields of artificial intelligence and virtual worlds.
Microsoft has benefited from its partnership with OpenAI by integrating its products into its core businesses and becoming a leader in AI among large tech companies.
However, the recent firing and reinstatement of Sam Altman as OpenAI chief revealed how Microsoft intervened in the controversy and offered to hire Altman and other OpenAI staff.
OpenAI has added Microsoft to its board as a nonvoting observer.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has also announced that it will investigate the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI and whether the balance of power between them has shifted. The US Federal Trade Commission has also raised questions about the relationship between the firms.
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