WASHINGTON—In response to the European Fee opening a formal antitrust investigation into Google’s use of net and YouTube content material for AI providers, the Middle for Information Innovation issued the next assertion from Director Daniel Castro:
The Fee’s concept of hurt would freeze search innovation in place. By insisting that Google provide each web site an “opt-out” from AI-generated overviews, Brussels is successfully saying essentially the most broadly used search engine in Europe should cease utilizing fashionable AI instruments—at the same time as smaller rivals stay free to take action. That’s not a recipe for competitors; it’s a recipe for stagnation. Search won’t enhance if regulators prohibit main corporations from deploying the very applied sciences that make outcomes extra helpful.
The Fee’s issues about YouTube make even much less sense. Content material creators voluntarily add movies underneath phrases that already enable Google to enhance its providers, together with by way of AI coaching. Calling this coercive just because YouTube is widespread turns fundamental platform governance into an antitrust violation. And whereas there’s a broader debate about whether or not firms ought to limit AI coaching by way of their phrases of service, singling out one platform whereas ignoring others would solely distort the market additional.
As an alternative of punishing corporations for utilizing AI lawfully and transparently, EU policymakers ought to concentrate on enabling Europe’s personal innovators to compete and permitting European customers to entry main AI providers. Europe won’t come out forward in AI by constraining the businesses which might be really constructing it.
Contact: Nicole Hinojosa, press@datainnovation.org
Leave a Reply