The UK’s competition watchdog sniffed around the AI industry with a bit more interest than usual on Thursday at an antitrust event in the US.
Speaking at the 72nd Antitrust Law Spring Meeting in Washington, DC, Sarah Cardell, CEO of the UK Competition and Markets Authority, discussed “growing concerns” that the web of connected partnerships between AI technology companies may hinder competition.
“I think it’s fair to say that when we started this work, we were curious,” said Cardell. “Now, with a deeper understanding and watching developments very closely, we have real concerns.”
That’s nothing new, that’s the very basis of how a firm works out how to price an item or service, at the maximum price the market will bear. It has been this way since the year dot.
Collaborating with “competitors” however must be prevented or the market won’t work. (This is the reason we have anti-monopoly laws, and anti-collusion laws). The laws exist already they just have to be enforced.