Liz Reid, Google’s head of search, testified Tuesday in a trial where the company is accused of using its dominant position to bolster its own services. The case, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, focuses on Google’s control over online search and its implications for competition.
Judge Amit Mehta, who is presiding over the lawsuit against Alphabet’s Google, previously ruled that the company holds a monopoly in the online search space. Now, during a three-week hearing, the court is examining potential remedies to limit Google’s influence and foster a more competitive market.
Reid explained how Google manages external requests to use its data for AI development. Since May 2024, Google has provided a grounding service on its Vertex AI platform, which allows developers to enhance the accuracy of responses by referencing Google web search results. This service, available through Google Cloud, is already in use by over a dozen companies.
Data Access and DOJ Proposals Under Review
Responding to questions from the Justice Department, Reid acknowledged a key difference between what outside companies receive via the paid grounding service and what Gemini, Google’s own AI, accesses internally. While both receive web search results, Gemini benefits from extra features such as the Knowledge Graph and OneBox, which provide structured data and quick answers, respectively.
The Justice Department aims to mandate that Google share more of its search data with competitors. Officials argue that broader access would help other AI developers create robust search indexes and offer better-informed results. Reid, however, warned that such a requirement could compromise data security, stating that the DOJ’s proposal would give rivals “a huge trove of data” vulnerable to hacking. She estimated that complying with the measure would require the work of about 2,000 engineers.
Reid also responded to an earlier statement by OpenAI, which said it requested access to Google’s search index in August of the previous year and was denied.
In addition, Reid pushed back against the DOJ’s call for more comprehensive opt-out controls for websites regarding inclusion in Google’s AI tools, notes NIX Solutions. She argued that Google already provides some mechanisms for opting out, and that the DOJ’s suggested system would be difficult to implement due to the varied nature of its AI models and features.
We’ll keep you updated as more integrations and rulings become available.