In response to the antitrust investigation in the United States, Google has submitted a counterproposal to the U.S. Department of Justice. The tech giant is willing to continue offering agreements and paying companies like Apple or Mozilla for the use of Google search in their browsers, but these agreements will not be exclusive.
"Our proposal allows browsers to continue offering Google search to their users and earn revenue from this partnership. It also provides them with additional flexibility: allowing multiple default agreements for different platforms (e.g., different default search engines for iPhone and iPad) and viewing modes, as well as the ability to change the default search service provider at least every 12 months," says Google in the statement.
In addition, Google is open to allowing Android device manufacturers to access the Google Play Store without requiring the use of Google search or the Chrome browser as default. This means manufacturers can install third-party search engines and browsers on their devices without risking access to Google Play and other Google services. Currently, using certain Google applications on Android is mandatory for manufacturers and is part of the Google Play Store license.
Google is also willing to allow the default installation of third-party chatbots, such as alternatives to Google Gemini, on Android. This could provide a great opportunity for OpenAI, which recently launched its own internet search in ChatGPT, to expand its user base by forming new partnerships with smartphone manufacturers.
Google's proposal is a response to more stringent recommendations from the U.S. Department of Justice, which, if implemented, would require the sale of Chrome and impose an overall ban on default search agreements. Google argues that such radical measures could compromise user safety and hinder innovation, especially amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence.