EU antitrust regulators are inquiring whether Google’s multi-year generative AI deal with Samsung obstructs rival chatbots on Samsung smartphones, according to an EU document reviewed by Reuters. Last month, the European Commission announced it would request information to better understand the implications of the deal, which involves embedding Google’s Gemini Nano in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series smartphones.
This inquiry could help the EU antitrust authority build a case against the companies if any anti-competitive practices are identified. The questionnaire asked if the pre-installation of Gemini Nano, either on the device or via the cloud, restricts the inclusion of other generative AI systems on the same device. Regulators also sought to determine if Gemini Nano’s pre-installation affects interoperability between other pre-installed chatbots and apps on Samsung smartphones.
Participants were asked whether they had attempted but failed to secure deals with device manufacturers to pre-install their chatbots and to provide details on the reasons for their rejections.