Imagine a world where a tech giant’s biggest blunder becomes its saving grace. That’s exactly what happened with Google’s disastrous Bard AI launch in 2023. When the chatbot flopped spectacularly, causing Google’s stock to plummet 8% in a single day, it seemed like a PR nightmare. But here’s where it gets controversial: two years later, a US federal judge ruled that Google had illegally monopolized online search—yet he also argued that the rise of artificial intelligence would naturally introduce new competition, sparing Google from major business overhauls. The judge essentially said, ‘Don’t worry, AI will fix this.’
In a thought-provoking episode of the Acquired podcast (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WICjyeivPI7KqGFq4zFKe), venture capitalists Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal called this a ‘blessing in disguise.’ Rosenthal boldly claimed, ‘As clumsy as Google was with Bard, if it means they avoid the kind of crippling distraction Microsoft faced from antitrust rulings, it was worth it. It actually saves Google.’
But here’s the part most people miss: the judge’s ruling hinges on the assumption that AI will level the playing field. Is that a safe bet? While AI has the potential to disrupt monopolies, it’s also a tool that Big Tech companies like Google can wield to further solidify their dominance. After all, they have the resources to invest heavily in AI research and development. So, is AI the great equalizer—or just another weapon in the arsenal of tech giants?
This raises a bigger question: Can we trust AI to protect us from Big Tech, or will it simply become another tool for their control? Let’s discuss—do you think AI will democratize the tech landscape, or will it end up concentrating power even more? Share your thoughts in the comments below!