HomeDOJ Proposes Google Divest Chrome, Permits AI Investments
The U.S. Department of Justice is sticking to its guns, still demanding that Google sell off its web browser, Chrome, according to a court filing dropped on Friday.
This isn't a new tune—the DOJ floated the idea of Google ditching Chrome back last year when Joe Biden was president, and it looks like they're not backing down even with the second Trump administration in the White House. But, they've eased up a bit on Google's AI ventures, no longer insisting that the tech giant part ways with its hefty investments in companies like Anthropic.
“Google’s illegal antics have turned it into an economic behemoth, one that messes up the marketplace just to make sure it always comes out on top, no matter what,” the DOJ stated in a filing signed off by Omeed Assefi, who's currently holding down the fort as the acting attorney general for antitrust. (Just a heads up, Trump's pick to lead the DOJ's antitrust division is still waiting for the green light.)
That's why the DOJ says it's keeping the "core components" of its original plan intact, like getting rid of Chrome and stopping those search-related payments to partners.
When it comes to AI, the DOJ has softened its stance. They're not pushing for Google to dump its AI investments anymore but would be cool with just getting a heads-up on future moves. And about Android? Instead of forcing Google to sell it now, they're leaving that call to the court down the line, depending on how the market shapes up.
This latest move comes after the DOJ and 38 state attorneys general threw down the gauntlet with antitrust lawsuits, leading Judge Amit P. Mehta to call out Google for playing dirty to keep its monopoly on online search. Google's not taking this lying down—they're gearing up to appeal Mehta's ruling but threw out an alternative plan, promising more wiggle room for their partners.
A Google spokesperson told Reuters that the DOJ's "over-the-top proposals are way beyond what the Court decided and would mess things up for American consumers, the economy, and national security."
Judge Mehta's set to listen to arguments from both sides come April.
Related article
Google IO 2026 unveils voice interaction with Gmail inbox
Google continues to integrate AI into your inbox. At the IO 2026 developer conference on Tuesday, the company expanded its Gmail "AI Inbox" feature with conversational AI, allowing users to ask questions about their inbox content rather than relying
Google rolls out Gemini in Chrome to India
On Wednesday, Google announced it is expanding Gemini integration for Chrome to new regions, including India, Canada, and New Zealand. This rollout allows desktop users to access Gemini via a sidebar, where they can ask Google’s AI chatbot about on-s
YouTube expands AI deepfake detection to politicians, government officials, and journalists
On Tuesday, YouTube announced it is expanding its deepfake detection technology to a select group of government officials, political candidates, and journalists. The tool identifies AI-generated likenesses and lets pilot participants request the remo
Related Special Topic Recommendations
Business
Best AI Contract Review Software: Spot Legal Loopholes & Compliance Risks Instantly
Discover the 2026 best AI contract review software on XIX.AI. Our top-rated, curated list features powerful tools that instantly spot legal loopholes and compliance risks. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. Find your game-changing solution for secure, efficient contract analysis. Explore the definitive guide now.
10 tools
xix.ai
Animation Creation
AI Anime Generator for Donghua: Create Web Novel Characters & Comic Avatars
Discover the 2026 best AI anime generators for donghua. Our top-rated, curated list features powerful tools to create stunning web novel characters and comic avatars. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests. Find your perfect creative partner and bring your stories to life today at XIX.AI.
10 tools
xix.ai
Comic Creation
Top AI Auto-Colorization Tools for Manga: Apply Flat Colors with Zero Consistency Errors
Discover the 2026 best AI auto-colorization tools for manga at XIX.AI. Our curated list features top-rated, game-changing solutions that apply flat colors with zero consistency errors, boosting your productivity. Explore free vs paid comparisons, real-world tests, and weekly updated rankings to find your perfect match. Unlock your AI edge today.
10 tools
xix.ai
writing
Top AI Fiction Profile Creators: Generate Consistent Character Motivations and Fatal Flaws
Discover the 2026 best AI fiction profile creators for crafting deep characters. XIX.AI's curated list features top-rated, game-changing tools that generate consistent motivations and fatal flaws. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests. Unlock your storytelling potential now.
10 tools
xix.ai
Business
Top AI Pricing Optimization Software: Track Competitors & Auto-Adjust Store Prices
Discover the 2026 best AI pricing optimization software on XIX.AI. Our curated list features top-rated, game-changing tools that track competitors and auto-adjust your store prices for maximum profit. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests. Unlock your pricing edge now.
10 tools
xix.ai
code
Best AI Code Reviewers: Automate Clean Code Compliance & Refactor Legacy Repo Files
Discover the 2026 best AI code reviewers on XIX.AI. Our curated list features top-rated, game-changing tools for automating clean code compliance and refactoring legacy repo files. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. Unlock your AI edge today.
10 tools
xix.ai
Comments (40)
0/500
![WalterHarris]()
Na also, das ist doch mal eine klare Botschaft vom DOJ! 😅 Irgendwie ironisch, dass Google Chrome abgeben soll aber gleichzeitig KI-Investitionen erlaubt sind. Ich frage mich, ob das wirklich fair für den Wettbewerb ist oder ob hier einfach nur Symbolpolitik betrieben wird. Die Tech-Riesen werden doch immer Wege finden, ihren Einfluss zu behalten...
![KevinWalker]()
Wow, the DOJ is really going hard on Google with this Chrome divestiture push! 🥳 It’s wild to think a browser could be such a big deal, but I guess it’s all about control. Wonder how this’ll shake up the AI race—permission to invest there feels like a weird trade-off. What’s next, splitting up YouTube?
![EdwardBaker]()
Wild to think the DOJ is still pushing Google to ditch Chrome! 😲 Wonder if this is more about curbing Big Tech's power or just posturing. What's next, breaking up their AI dreams too?
![MatthewCarter]()
Wow, Google might lose Chrome? That's wild! It's like telling a chef to give up their favorite knife. I wonder if this will actually make the web more competitive or just mess things up for users. 🤔
![SamuelEvans]()
Wow, the DOJ is really going hard after Google! Forcing them to sell Chrome feels like trying to split a tech giant's heart out 😅. I wonder if this will actually make the web more competitive or just create new monopolies elsewhere. Thoughts, anyone?
![RogerJackson]()
DOJ가 구글에게 크롬을 매각하라고 요구하다니, 정말 놀랍네요! 반독점 문제는 이해하지만, 크롬은 제 인터넷 상의 두 번째 집 같은 곳이에요. 만약 이것이 실행된다면, 구글의 AI 투자로 큰 성과를 내기를 바랍니다. 어쩌면 새로운 기술이 나올지도 모르겠네요? 🤔
Google IO 2026 unveils voice interaction with Gmail inbox
Google continues to integrate AI into your inbox. At the IO 2026 developer conference on Tuesday, the company expanded its Gmail "AI Inbox" feature with conversational AI, allowing users to ask questions about their inbox content rather than relying
Google rolls out Gemini in Chrome to India
On Wednesday, Google announced it is expanding Gemini integration for Chrome to new regions, including India, Canada, and New Zealand. This rollout allows desktop users to access Gemini via a sidebar, where they can ask Google’s AI chatbot about on-s
YouTube expands AI deepfake detection to politicians, government officials, and journalists
On Tuesday, YouTube announced it is expanding its deepfake detection technology to a select group of government officials, political candidates, and journalists. The tool identifies AI-generated likenesses and lets pilot participants request the remo
Discover the 2026 best AI contract review software on XIX.AI. Our top-rated, curated list features powerful tools that instantly spot legal loopholes and compliance risks. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. Find your game-changing solution for secure, efficient contract analysis. Explore the definitive guide now.
10 tools
xix.ai
Discover the 2026 best AI anime generators for donghua. Our top-rated, curated list features powerful tools to create stunning web novel characters and comic avatars. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests. Find your perfect creative partner and bring your stories to life today at XIX.AI.
10 tools
xix.ai
Discover the 2026 best AI auto-colorization tools for manga at XIX.AI. Our curated list features top-rated, game-changing solutions that apply flat colors with zero consistency errors, boosting your productivity. Explore free vs paid comparisons, real-world tests, and weekly updated rankings to find your perfect match. Unlock your AI edge today.
10 tools
xix.ai
Discover the 2026 best AI fiction profile creators for crafting deep characters. XIX.AI's curated list features top-rated, game-changing tools that generate consistent motivations and fatal flaws. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests. Unlock your storytelling potential now.
10 tools
xix.ai
Discover the 2026 best AI pricing optimization software on XIX.AI. Our curated list features top-rated, game-changing tools that track competitors and auto-adjust your store prices for maximum profit. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests. Unlock your pricing edge now.
10 tools
xix.ai
Discover the 2026 best AI code reviewers on XIX.AI. Our curated list features top-rated, game-changing tools for automating clean code compliance and refactoring legacy repo files. Compare free vs paid options with real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. Unlock your AI edge today.
10 tools
xix.ai
Na also, das ist doch mal eine klare Botschaft vom DOJ! 😅 Irgendwie ironisch, dass Google Chrome abgeben soll aber gleichzeitig KI-Investitionen erlaubt sind. Ich frage mich, ob das wirklich fair für den Wettbewerb ist oder ob hier einfach nur Symbolpolitik betrieben wird. Die Tech-Riesen werden doch immer Wege finden, ihren Einfluss zu behalten...
Wow, the DOJ is really going hard on Google with this Chrome divestiture push! 🥳 It’s wild to think a browser could be such a big deal, but I guess it’s all about control. Wonder how this’ll shake up the AI race—permission to invest there feels like a weird trade-off. What’s next, splitting up YouTube?
Wild to think the DOJ is still pushing Google to ditch Chrome! 😲 Wonder if this is more about curbing Big Tech's power or just posturing. What's next, breaking up their AI dreams too?
Wow, Google might lose Chrome? That's wild! It's like telling a chef to give up their favorite knife. I wonder if this will actually make the web more competitive or just mess things up for users. 🤔
Wow, the DOJ is really going hard after Google! Forcing them to sell Chrome feels like trying to split a tech giant's heart out 😅. I wonder if this will actually make the web more competitive or just create new monopolies elsewhere. Thoughts, anyone?
DOJ가 구글에게 크롬을 매각하라고 요구하다니, 정말 놀랍네요! 반독점 문제는 이해하지만, 크롬은 제 인터넷 상의 두 번째 집 같은 곳이에요. 만약 이것이 실행된다면, 구글의 AI 투자로 큰 성과를 내기를 바랍니다. 어쩌면 새로운 기술이 나올지도 모르겠네요? 🤔
