A federal judge has ruled in favor of Google regarding its market dominance, but the decision compels the company to share specific search data with competitors. The ruling follows a five-year antitrust lawsuit that targeted Google’s control over online search, with Judge Amit Mehta determining that breaking up the company would be an ineffective remedy. He did order Alphabet to provide access to certain search data, excluding exclusive contracts that secure its default position on devices. Google plans to appeal this decision while competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity stand poised to benefit from insights into Google’s market data and potentially develop AI search engines. Experts warn that the success of these alternatives is uncertain, as they may require substantial investments and face a challenge in capturing consumer markets currently dominated by Google. 5,000 people already rely on generative AI tools like ChatGPT for information, and this case underscores the growing influence of AI in disrupting traditional search methods. The ruling also allows Google to maintain its distribution agreements with device manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung, enabling them to pre-install or promote alternative search engines alongside Google products. While Alphabet’s stock initially spiked following the decision, it has since maintained a stable price. The Department of Justice had previously supported the breakup of both Chrome and Android, but these requests were ultimately rejected. Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater revealed that officials are evaluating their options and considering whether the current ruling provides sufficient recourse for addressing Google’s conduct. Other companies like DuckDuckGo have expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, arguing it falls short in forcing substantial change.