DOJ warns Google may use AI to entrench its search dominance, raising fresh antitrust concerns as landmark trial kicks off.
The U.S. government is intensifying its efforts to rein in Google's dominance, warning that the tech giant could leverage artificial intelligence to cement its search monopoly for years to come. As a major antitrust trial got underway in Washington, Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers urged a federal judge to consider drastic remedies — including spinning off Google’s Chrome browser.
“Nothing less than the future of the internet is at stake here,” said Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, opening the proceedings before District Judge Amit Mehta. Slater emphasized that if Google's behavior isn’t curbed, it could extend its control into emerging technologies like AI, not just internet search.
The Justice Department's proposals, unveiled at Monday’s hearing, represent some of the most aggressive antitrust measures suggested against a major tech company in decades. Along with forcing a potential divestiture of Chrome, the government left open the possibility of requiring Google to spin off parts of its Android mobile operating system — moves that could reshape the digital landscape.
In a statement, David Dahlquist Said:
"This is a moment in time, we're at an inflection point, will we abandon the search market and surrender them to control of the monopolists or will we let competition prevail and give choice to future generations."
Google, for its part, pushed back sharply.
In a previous blog post, Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs, accused the DOJ of overreaching. “The DOJ chose to push a radical interventionist agenda that would harm Americans and America’s global technology leadership,” Walker wrote. He added that the proposed remedies go “miles beyond the court’s decision.”
The antitrust case stems from Google’s longstanding agreements with companies like Apple and Samsung, which made Google’s search engine the default option on millions of devices. Judge Mehta previously ruled in August 2024 that Google had unlawfully maintained a monopoly in search.
Adding to Google's troubles, the company recently lost a separate case over its dominance in the online advertising market. In a ruling earlier this month, District Judge Leonie Brinkema found that Google had "wilfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts" to maintain monopoly power in online advertising tools for publishers.
This dual legal pressure could have serious implications for Google's core businesses. Online advertising remains the primary revenue engine powering free services like Gmail, Maps, and Search, while simultaneously funding Google's rapid expansion into artificial intelligence.
If the DOJ's remedies are implemented, it could mark one of the most significant restructurings in Silicon Valley history — effectively ending Google's integrated dominance over both information search and digital advertising.
For now, Google is appealing both rulings. But as the trial continues, it’s clear the U.S. government is preparing for a future where AI doesn't just reshape technology — it reshapes antitrust enforcement too.
