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The DOJ wants a Perplexity executive to testify in its Google antitrust case | TechCrunch

Dec 18, 2024 - techcrunch.com
A U.S. court ruled that Google has a search monopoly, prompting the Justice Department (DOJ) to consider potential penalties, such as separating Chrome from Google. As part of this process, the DOJ intends to call Dmitry Shevelenko, chief business officer of AI search provider Perplexity, as a witness. The DOJ is interested in understanding the relationship between generative AI and search access points, which could support its argument that Google monopolizes the search market and stifles competition. Perplexity, valued at $9 billion, is seen as a potential competitor to Google with its AI search tools.

Perplexity is caught in the middle of the antitrust case, as both the DOJ and Google seek information from the company. Google has subpoenaed Perplexity, along with Microsoft and OpenAI, for documents to demonstrate that it faces viable competition. However, Perplexity has not yet provided any documents to Google, citing the burden of collecting extensive information. The company has agreed to fulfill most of Google's document requests but is negotiating the scope of what it needs to provide. Meanwhile, TechCrunch reporter Charles Rollet notes that neither Perplexity nor Google has commented on the situation.

Key takeaways:

  • A U.S. court ruled that Google has a search monopoly, and the DOJ is considering penalties, potentially including separating Chrome from Google.
  • The DOJ wants to call Dmitry Shevelenko of Perplexity as a witness to discuss generative AI's impact on search access points and competition.
  • Perplexity, an AI search provider, is caught between the DOJ and Google, as both seek information to support their cases in the antitrust dispute.
  • Google has subpoenaed Perplexity for documents to demonstrate competition in the search field, but Perplexity has yet to fully comply, citing the burden of document collection.
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