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WASHINGTON – April 23, 2025 — In a surprising turn during Google’s antitrust trial, OpenAI’s Head of Product, Nick Turley, testified Tuesday that the AI company would consider purchasing the Chrome web browser if a court mandates its divestment from Alphabet.
The remark, reported by Reuters, came amid the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to impose structural remedies on Google, following Judge Amit Mehta’s prior ruling that the tech giant maintains an unlawful monopoly in online search and search advertising.
Though Chrome has not been officially offered for sale, Turley’s comment signals OpenAI’s interest in deepening its footprint in user-facing internet infrastructure if opportunities emerge from regulatory action.
OpenAI Says Google Rejected ChatGPT Search Integration
Turley also revealed that OpenAI had approached Google last year, requesting access to its search API to enhance ChatGPT’s information delivery capabilities. OpenAI currently relies on Microsoft Bing for search.
In an internal email presented during the trial, OpenAI told Google, “We believe having multiple partners, and in particular Google’s API, would enable us to provide a better product to users.” However, Google declined the request in August 2024, citing concerns about strengthening a potential rival.
“We have no partnership with Google today,” Turley confirmed under oath.
ChatGPT Still Heavily Dependent on External Search
Turley testified that ChatGPT is still “years away” from being able to independently answer 80% of real-time user queries. He expressed support for DOJ’s proposed remedies, including compelling Google to share its search data, which could significantly improve AI assistants like ChatGPT in delivering accurate and timely responses.
Regulators Push Back on Google’s AI Expansion
Prosecutors warned that Google’s market dominance in search could spill over into artificial intelligence, where it has already begun integrating its search capabilities with Gemini AI.
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Although Google argues the DOJ’s case is solely about search and not about AI, it acknowledged the sector’s growing relevance. Google insists it faces robust competition from Microsoft and Meta in AI development.
Exclusive Deals, Now Loosened, Still Under Scrutiny
The trial continues to examine Google’s use of exclusive contracts with device makers like Samsung and Motorola to secure its search engine and Chrome as defaults. Judge Mehta previously concluded these deals were a key factor in Google’s dominance.
Google has since amended some contracts to be non-exclusive, aligning with voluntary remedies it proposed to avoid harsher court-imposed sanctions. But DOJ attorneys argue these steps are insufficient.
The DOJ is urging the court to go further, demanding measures such as:
- A ban on payments for default search placement.
- A requirement for open access to critical search data.
- Potential divestiture of products like Chrome or Gemini AI.
High Stakes for Big Tech and AI Future
As the trial unfolds, it continues to shed light on the tension between AI innovation and market control. With OpenAI potentially interested in owning a product like Chrome, the case highlights how AI firms are jockeying for digital real estate to better serve and grow their user bases.
The outcome of this case could reshape not only the search industry but the broader digital ecosystem—including how AI platforms access, process, and deliver information.
