Bloomberg: UK regulator launches formal investigation into Google's partnership with Anthropic

Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic is at risk of disruption in the UK after the competition watchdog called for further investigation into the potential impact of the deal. Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority said Thursday it was launching a formal phase one merger investigation. Google pledged to invest $2 billion in the artificial intelligence startup last year. The funding came on the heels of a major cloud deal with Anthropic. The Competition and Markets Authority has been at the forefront of global regulators to ensure that large tech investments in the artificial intelligence industry do not distort the market. Microsoft Corp.’s investment in OpenAI could also face an investigation by British regulators, while Amazon’s $4 billion investment in Anthropic was approved in September. (Bloomberg)