Back to journal
Competition22 April 20262 min read

Competition and AI: anticompetitive practices, abuse of dominance and regulatory stakes

Google's massive AI investments raise competition questions. What vigilance is required for partners and competitors within these ecosystems?

The concentration of the AI market around a handful of vertically integrated players — cloud, models, distribution — is drawing scrutiny from European and national competition authorities. Bundling, priority access to compute and differentiated pricing are examined under the DMA and general competition law.

02

For partners, technological dependency translates into contractual

For partners, technological dependency translates into contractual and competitive risk: unilaterally modified terms, de facto eviction from key features, capture of usage value. Documenting this dependency becomes a governance issue.

For partners, technological dependency translates into contractual and competitive risk: unilaterally modified terms, de facto eviction from key features, capture of usage value.

03

For competitors, vigilance targets disguised exclusivity, data

For competitors, vigilance targets disguised exclusivity, data access conditions and vertical integration strategies. Complaints before national authorities, in parallel with European proceedings, are gaining effectiveness.

Key takeaways

  • 01Bundling, priority access to compute and differentiated pricing are examined under the DMA and general competition law.
  • 02Documenting this dependency becomes a governance issue.
  • 03Complaints before national authorities, in parallel with European proceedings, are gaining effectiveness.

Published on

22 April 2026

Section

Competition

Signed

Gérald Faure

Rackham Limited — Dublin office

Rackham Limited

Take this further

A confidential conversation with the Rackham team to translate these questions into your organisation.

Start the conversation