The UK government is considering including artificial intelligence under the purview of the upcoming Digital Competition Bill. This move aims to apply ex-ante antitrust regulations to AI, mitigating risks associated with data monopolisation, algorithmic collusion, and market dominance by major technology firms.
Global regulators are increasingly focused on AI oversight. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK has already launched a review into AI foundation models, examining their potential impact on competition and consumer protection. Similarly, the European Commission is reassessing the scope of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to determine if AI companies should be subject to its provisions. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also taking a firm stance on potential anti-competitive practices in the AI sector.
These regulatory efforts reflect concerns about algorithmic bias, self-preferencing, and the potential for AI to be used for anti-competitive practices such as price fixing. By extending antitrust rules to AI, governments aim to foster innovation, ensure fair competition, and protect consumers in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
