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India’s CCI Prepares Action on Potential Anti-Competitive Conduct in AI Sector

By  |  March 16, 2026

India’s competition watchdog is preparing to intensify oversight of the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence industry, with officials warning that emerging technologies could create new avenues for anti-competitive behavior.

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    Speaking at the 11th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law in New Delhi on Monday, Competition Commission of India (CCI) Chairperson Ravneet Kaur said the regulator is examining developments in the AI ecosystem and is ready to address practices that could undermine fair competition, according to a statement delivered during the conference.

    Kaur indicated that one area of concern involves algorithmic collusion, a situation in which pricing or other competitive decisions could potentially be coordinated through automated systems rather than direct agreements between companies. According to a statement from Kaur at the event, such developments may require regulatory attention as AI technologies become more deeply embedded in commercial operations.

    The CCI chief also outlined a range of industries currently under the regulator’s watch for potential anti-trust concerns. These sectors include sports, civil aviation, paints and varnishes, and the liquor industry, according to a statement made during the conference discussions. She noted that the regulator is simultaneously preparing to address possible anti-competitive practices that could emerge in the AI sector as the technology evolves.

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    Beyond algorithmic collusion, the commission has also identified structural concerns in the AI ecosystem. Kaur said regulators have observed the possibility of concentration within the AI value chain, which could raise competition issues if a small number of companies come to dominate key stages of development or distribution, according to a statement delivered at the event.

    The remarks come as the competition authority continues its broader work monitoring market behavior across sectors. Last year, the CCI carried out a market study focused on artificial intelligence and its implications for competition, according to a statement referenced by Kaur. The study formed part of the commission’s wider effort to understand how emerging technologies might affect market dynamics and business conduct.

    Kaur also provided an update on the regulator’s handling of anti-trust cases. According to a statement made during the conference, the commission has resolved the vast majority of the matters it has received.

    “We get antitrust matters from all across,” she said. According to a statement citing commission data, the CCI has received 1,360 pieces of anti-trust information, of which 1,211 cases have already been decided and disposed of.

    The commission’s increasing attention to artificial intelligence reflects a broader global debate about how competition regulators should approach rapidly evolving digital technologies.

    Source: News Type SAPP