The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ended its investigation into Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI, stating that the software giant does not have sufficient control over the AI company to warrant further scrutiny. The probe, which began due to concerns over antitrust issues, was focused on whether Microsoft’s involvement in OpenAI, which started with a $1 billion investment in 2019, gave it too much influence over the AI company.
Despite Microsoft acquiring material influence over OpenAI in 2019, the CMA concluded that it did not have de facto control over the company and, therefore, the partnership did not meet the criteria for a full investigation under UK merger control laws. However, the CMA made it clear that its conclusion should not be interpreted as ruling out any potential competition concerns from the ongoing partnership.
Microsoft welcomed the CMA’s decision, emphasizing that its partnership with OpenAI fosters competition, innovation, and the responsible development of artificial intelligence. The company also praised the CMA’s careful review of the commercial realities of the partnership.
The investigation into Microsoft’s ties with OpenAI is part of the CMA’s broader scrutiny of the growing relationships between major tech companies and AI startups. Other partnerships, such as those between Amazon and Anthropic, as well as Google-owner Alphabet and Anthropic, have also been under review, but none reached the threshold for deeper investigation.
The CMA recently gained additional powers to probe large tech firms deemed to have “strategic market status,” and it has already launched investigations into Apple and Google’s smartphone ecosystems and search services. However, analysts suggest that the recent appointment of Doug Gurr, a former Amazon executive, as interim chair of the CMA may signal a more lenient approach to future deal-making.