-
Indian army says new exchange of gunfire with Pakistan
-
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre takes own life in Australia: family
-
Hundreds of buildings damaged, dozens injured in 6.3 Ecuador quake
-
India and Pakistan's Kashmir fallout hits economy too
-
Francis's funeral to be grand farewell to 'pope of the poor'
-
Pogacar faces defiant Evenepoel at Liege-Bastogne-Liege
-
Chelsea eye great escape against Barcelona in Women's Champions League
-
Iran, US to hold new round of high-level nuclear talks
-
'Energy and effort' pay off for Reds as Blues' woes continue
-
Albatross and closing birdie lift China's Liu to LPGA Chevron lead
-
On the horizon? Wave of momentum for high seas treaty
-
Developing countries should fast-track US trade deals: World Bank president
-
Grizzlies' Morant 'doubtful' for must-win game 4 v Thunder
-
Trump in Rome for pope funeral in first foreign trip of new term
-
Trump says Russia-Ukraine deal 'very close' after new Kremlin talks
-
US rookies lead PGA pairs event with McIlroy and Lowry in hunt
-
Trump tariff promises get a reality check
-
Warriors coach Kerr 'relatively optimistic' injured Butler will play game 3
-
Postecoglou hopes 'Stonecutter's Credo' can inspire Spurs
-
PSG lose unbeaten Ligue 1 record ahead of Arsenal showdown
-
Venezuela accuses El Salvador president of 'human trafficking'
-
Own goal takes Sundowns to African final against Pyramids
-
Scores of buildings damaged, 20 injured in Ecuador quake
-
US stocks extend rally as market eyes busy calendar next week
-
Pope's death triggers surge of disinformation he fought against
-
Rovanpera takes control of Rally Islas Canarias
-
Zelensky insists Crimea is Ukrainian as US envoy meets Putin
-
Patel and Mendis help Sunrisers beat Kings in Dhoni's 400th T20
-
Copa del Rey ref statements 'unacceptable': Real Madrid after boycotting final build-up
-
Insurance CEO's accused killer pleads not guilty to federal murder charges
-
FBI arrests Wisconsin judge for shielding undocumented migrant
-
Brazil ex-president Collor de Mello jailed for corruption
-
Zelensky insists Crimea 'belongs' to Ukraine as US envoy meets Putin
-
Real Madrid boycott Copa del Rey build-up over referee complaints
-
Trinidad and Tobago votes for parliament, PM, with opposition in lead
-
IMF chief hails 'constructive' Spring Meetings held under tariff uncertainty
-
Iran FM Araghchi in Oman ahead of nuclear talks with US
-
Dozens of buildings destroyed, 20 injured in Ecuador quake
-
Young Barca must 'enjoy' Real Madrid Copa final fight: Flick
-
Pakistan and India border closure separates families
-
Brazil's Bolsonaro 'stable' after post-surgery setback
-
Catholics in secular Cuba hail Francis as 'bridge'
-
US envoy Witkoff, Putin discuss 'possibility' of direct Russia-Ukraine talks
-
Community seeks answers after French school knife killing
-
German prosecutors seek jail terms in VW 'dieselgate' trial
-
Sabalenka makes winning start at Madrid Open
-
EU, US should de-escalate and negotiate trade deal: IMF Europe director
-
Russia accuses Ukraine of killing general in car bombing
-
Emery wants FA Cup glory and Champions League berth for Villa
-
Buildings destroyed, one injured in Ecuador quake
Microsoft drops OpenAI board seat as scrunity increases
Microsoft has ditched plans to take up a non-voting position on the board of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, according to a letter seen by AFP on Wednesday, as regulators step up scrutiny of deals involving AI companies.
Microsoft's $13-billion tie-up with OpenAI has raised concerns on both sides of the Atlantic about just how much influence the tech giant has over its smaller partner.
Its early investment in OpenAI has made Microsoft a market leader in AI.
When ChatGPT hit the scene in November 2022, it marked the popular arrival of the AI revolution as the chatbot dazzled users with its ability to churn out eloquent text in seconds.
But regulators began examining the partnership after a failed boardroom coup last year against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman -- whom Microsoft supported and even briefly hired.
After the turmoil in OpenAI, Microsoft got a seat on the board as a non-voting observer that it is now giving up.
Microsoft's withdrawal is "effective immediately", according to a letter sent from the company to OpenAI on Tuesday.
"Over the past eight months we have witnessed significant progress by the newly formed board and are confident in the company's direction," the letter stated.
"We no longer believe our limited role as an observer is necessary."
The EU last month concluded after a preliminary examination that Microsoft's investment did not mean it had taken control of OpenAI.
Brussels is however now seeking more information from Microsoft about the agreement with OpenAI to understand whether "certain exclusivity clauses" could harm competition.
Microsoft is also under examination over its ties to OpenAI by British competition regulators, and faced a potential antitrust probe in the United States.
"It is hard not to conclude that Microsoft's decision has been heavily influenced by the ongoing competition/antitrust scrutiny," said Alex Haffner, a competition lawyer, at Fladgate law firm.
- More scrutiny -
Media reports said Apple had similarly given up the chance to sit on OpenAI's board, but the iPhone maker was not immediately available for comment.
Apple had been due to get a seat after partnering with OpenAI for a suite of new AI features on its popular devices -- rolling out soon in markets outside the EU.
The bloc's competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, has put big tech on alert over investments in the fast-growing AI market and insisted that the EU continues to keep an eye over the sector.
With regulators focused on "the complex web of inter-relationships that big tech has created with AI providers", lawyer Haffner said there was a "need for Microsoft and others to carefully consider how they structure these arrangements going forward".
Another phenomenon in the AI market in the EU's crosshairs is so-called "acqui-hires" -- when a company acquires another firm mainly to grab its key talent -- with Brussels racing to understand if it distorts competition.
Microsoft earlier this year announced a deal to hire senior figures from OpenAI rival Inflection, including its boss, to head up a newly created consumer AI unit.
But unlike a merger, Inflection still operates as an independent company and such a move by Microsoft means it avoids a traditional merger probe.
Regulators have the right to block mergers if there are fears of damage to competition.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN