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A Rising AI Sector Sees Opportunity in Google Antitrust Ruling

By  |  September 3, 2025

Several artificial intelligence companies could benefit from a landmark U.S. court ruling that compels Google to share its valuable search data with competitors, according to Reuters. The decision, handed down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, represents a significant moment in regulators’ attempts to curb Alphabet’s dominance in online search while giving smaller players a chance to build rival platforms.

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    Judge Mehta noted in his order that the rise of generative AI has reshaped how people seek information, with tens of millions turning to chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude for answers once found through traditional search engines. While these tools are not yet capable of replacing Google Search, experts cited by Reuters believe that further development could make them viable competitors in the future.

    Although Google avoided a potential breakup of its Chrome browser and Android operating system, the ruling lowers barriers for AI-driven challengers. Per Reuters, this requirement allows developers to access Google’s indexing and syndication data, giving them a foundation for building consumer-facing search experiences. However, industry analysts caution that duplicating Google’s scale and reach will require extraordinary amounts of capital and years of work.

    Read more: Google Antitrust Fine Delayed as EU Weighs Risk of US Retaliation

    Deepak Mathivanan of Cantor Fitzgerald told Reuters that creating user-ready search engines using Google’s datasets still demands immense effort. Similarly, Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, described the cost of building a Google-level alternative as “astronomically expensive.” Even with Google data in hand, rivals face the uphill task of convincing users to switch.

    Despite the challenges, some well-funded startups are pressing forward. OpenAI has already integrated a search function into ChatGPT and, per Reuters, is preparing to launch a web browser to rival Chrome. Perplexity, backed by Nvidia, has rolled out AI-powered search and browser tools and is negotiating with phone manufacturers to have its browser preloaded on devices.

    The ruling could also reinvigorate established players. According to Reuters, Microsoft may see an opening to boost Bing’s visibility, while Apple—considered an AI laggard—might seek to re-enter the search arena after falling behind on artificial intelligence integration across its products.

    Judge Mehta underscored that his decision is more acceptable now because both tech giants and startups are channeling “hundreds of billions of dollars” into generative AI.

    Source: Reuters