FTC Accelerates Microsoft AI Probe

What happened

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accelerated its investigation into Microsoft's enterprise computing dominance. Agency officials issued formal queries to competitors regarding Microsoft's cloud software and AI products, including Copilot. The probe examines potential illegal monopolisation of enterprise markets through bundled services. This action follows Microsoft's January disclosure of Copilot usage data and Maia AI chip launch. FTC investigators seek evidence that Microsoft's integrated infrastructure and software stack prevents competition in cloud and AI sectors.

Why it matters

Procurement teams and CTOs face increased regulatory risk regarding Microsoft software licensing and bundled AI services. FTC scrutiny of Copilot integration mirrors the December EU probe into Meta's AI, establishing a pattern of global regulatory pressure on integrated AI stacks. Because investigators are querying rivals, competitors gain a mechanism to challenge Microsoft's market dominance. Therefore, platform engineers may face future constraints on cross-service integration. Resulting enforcement could block current bundling practices, increasing costs for enterprise software.