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OpenAI Considered Acquisition of Google Chrome, Executive Reveals During Antitrust Trial

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An OpenAI executive revealed during a high-profile antitrust trial that the company would be interested in acquiring Google’s Chrome browser—if regulators succeed in forcing Alphabet to divest it. The disclosure was made Tuesday in Washington, where the U.S. Department of Justice is pressing its case against Google’s dominance in the online search market.

Nick Turley, head of product for ChatGPT, made the statement while testifying at the trial. The DOJ is seeking sweeping remedies to restore competition, arguing that Google has unfairly cemented its monopoly in the search industry through exclusive agreements and platform bundling.

Although Google has never offered Chrome for sale, the judge presiding over the case ruled last year that the tech giant does indeed hold a monopoly in search and related advertising. Google, for its part, has denied wrongdoing and is preparing to appeal the decision, maintaining that its products are chosen by users on merit.

The trial, which is being closely watched by the tech industry, also offers a window into the growing rivalry in generative AI. Prosecutors argued in their opening remarks that Google’s dominance in search could give it an unfair head start in artificial intelligence, allowing it to use its AI tools to further direct users back to its core search platform—tightening its grip on the market even more.

Google Chrome Patches 23-Year-Old Bug That Exposed Users’ Browsing History

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Google Chrome is finally addressing a longstanding privacy vulnerability that has existed for over two decades. This bug allowed malicious websites to detect whether users had previously visited certain links by exploiting how browsers visually indicate visited links. Although some browsers implemented workarounds over the years, Google’s upcoming update introduces a more comprehensive fix. The patch is set to arrive with Chrome version 136, which is expected to begin rolling out later this month.

The root of the issue lies in the CSS :visited selector—a styling rule that changes the appearance of hyperlinks a user has already clicked on. Typically, visited links appear in purple while unvisited ones are blue. However, because this styling was applied across websites, it created a potential for abuse. If a malicious website included the same link present on another site, it could determine if a user had visited that link simply by checking its appearance, effectively exposing parts of the user’s browsing history.

To address this, Google has implemented a technique known as :visited link partitioning. In a recent post on the Chrome Developers Blog, the company explained that the browser will now partition visited link history on a per-site basis. This means a link visited on one website will no longer be marked as visited on a different domain, preventing cross-site detection through CSS styling. According to Google, this change significantly improves user privacy and prevents sites from identifying previously visited URLs using old exploit techniques.

Interestingly, although the bug was only officially acknowledged in 2022, the underlying issue dates back nearly 23 years, making it one of the oldest privacy flaws to persist in modern web browsers. By partitioning visited link data, Google Chrome is catching up with privacy measures that have become more common in other browsers. This update marks a crucial step forward in Chrome’s ongoing efforts to enhance user privacy and security, especially as users become increasingly aware of how their data is tracked online.

UK Antitrust Body Raises Concerns Over Apple and Google’s Mobile

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Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised concerns about the state of competition in the mobile browser market, dominated by Apple and Google. The CMA’s independent inquiry group published a final report supporting its decision to open an investigation into the sector in January, stating that the market was not functioning well for consumers or businesses.

The majority of the report’s concerns were focused on Apple’s Safari browser, particularly its policies surrounding internet access on Apple devices. In response to provisional findings published in November, the CMA launched an investigation under its expanded powers to assess whether Apple and Google hold “strategic market status” (SMS) in mobile ecosystems, a broader focus than just the browser market.

The CMA suggested that if either company were designated with SMS status, it could lead to regulatory interventions, such as improving the ability of competitors to offer new features. Apple responded, stating that it prioritizes user trust and believes the remedies proposed would harm privacy and security. The company expressed concerns about the report and pledged to continue constructive dialogue with the CMA.

Google defended its position, highlighting that the Android ecosystem’s openness has expanded choice and lowered costs, which it claims democratizes access to smartphones and apps. Google also pledged to work collaboratively with the CMA to create a regulatory environment that fosters innovation.

The report revealed that Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome browsers dominate the mobile browser market, with Safari accounting for 88% of browser usage on Apple devices and Chrome holding 77% of the market on Android devices in 2024. Margot Daly, chair of the independent inquiry group, emphasized that the lack of competition in the browser space was stifling innovation and welcomed the CMA’s action to explore SMS investigations into the two tech giants.

The CMA expects to complete its SMS investigations later this year.