The European Commission has started a big investigation. It is looking into how Google uses artificial intelligence for search summaries. The EU wants to know if Google's "AI Overview" feature is fair. It will check if the AI uses copyrighted material unfairly. The investigation also looks at competition in the digital market. This shows the EU's strong view on AI.
There are two main worries. First, Google might use data without permission. Second, Google could become too powerful. Investigators are checking if Google trained its AI on content from websites and YouTube. It seems this happened without asking or paying the owners. The investigation will also see if the AI summaries hurt competition. They give answers directly. This might send fewer people to other websites.
Content creators and media companies are worried. They say the AI summaries answer questions on Google. This means fewer people click on their websites. Their advertising money is decreasing. Since the AI feature started, fewer people have come from Google searches. This is seen as a big problem for their business.
Google said it wants to work together. A Google spokesperson said, "Europeans should get the best new technology." They also said, "We will work with news and creative industries in the AI era." The spokesperson worries the investigation could "stop new ideas." They think the market is very competitive now.
This investigation is important for the EU's Digital Markets Act. This law helps control big online platforms. Fair competition and using data responsibly are key. The result might change how Google collects data for AI. It could also create new rules for paying for content. This case could affect how AI systems use copyrighted material everywhere.