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☆ A global tax war is looming. It could hit Big Tech hard
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A stalemate in Washington could destroy a landmark tax deal that was painstakingly hammered out among 140 countries over the better part of a decade. Some analysts say that the United States’ inability to ratify the deal could lead to a tax war among the richest nations that would hit tech behemoths like Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon particularly hard. Canada recently implemented a local tax on the world’s largest tech companies, something the OECD treaty had sought to avoid. New Zealand has also said it will implement its own digital services tax on large multinational companies beginning in 2025. The FTC also said that documents showed that competing mattress suppliers would lose access to its most important retail channel.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Manal Corwin, ”, Megan Funkhouser, won’t, Alicia Wallace, Economists, Ramishah Maruf, Tempur Sealy, —, Foster Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Apple, Meta, Economic Co, Development, OECD, Biden, Republicans, Finance, OECD’s, Tax, Administration, Information Technology Industry Council, CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics ’, Labor, Labor Statistics, Federal Trade Commission, United, FTC, Pedic, Sealy Locations: New York, Washington, United States, Canada, Zealand, New Zealand, Stearns

☆ FTC unanimously moves to block $4 billion merger of mattress giants
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —The Federal Trade Commission unanimously voted to block mattress maker Tempur Sealy’s purchase of Mattress Firm on Tuesday. Mattress Firm was already dealing with its own financial issues, including a 2018 bankruptcy. In a statement, Tempur Sealy said the bedding industry is “highly competitive” and only a small fraction of brick-and-mortar storefronts are Mattress Firms. “Tempur Sealy has been working constructively with the FTC to secure regulatory approval for this transaction and is disappointed that the FTC has initiated litigation. Correction: A previous story misstated the Tempur Sealy portfolio.

Persons: Tempur Sealy, –, ”, Henry Liu, Foster, Casper, Serta Simmons, “ Tempur Sealy, “, CNN’s Jordan Valinsky, Sealy Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Trade, United, FTC, Competition, Pedic, Sealy, Amazon, Innovation, Inc Locations: New York, United States, FTC’s, Stearns

CNN —A major Supreme Court ruling Friday that shifted power from the executive branch to the judiciary stands to transform how the federal government works. By overturning a 1984 precedent, the court’s conservative majority has made countless regulations vulnerable to legal challenge. The Supreme Court ruling could boost efforts by conservatives who have taken aim at the Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s rules limiting planet-warming pollution from vehicles, oil and gas wells and pipelines, and power plants. The ruling has injected legal uncertainty into regulations of all types, including those on technology, labor, the environment and health care. But the Supreme Court has yet to decide a case heard this term that might gut that limitation.

Persons: ”, Kent Barnett, —, Thomas Berry, John Roberts, Roberts, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Joe Biden, Shawn ThewPool, Adam Rust, ” Rust, Andrew Schwartzman, Alexander MacDonald, ” MacDonald, Sharon Block, ” Block, Biden, Andrew Twinamatsiko, ” Twinamatsiko, “, Paul Gallant, TD Cowen, David Vladeck, Chevron —, Ann Carlson, Carlson, David Doniger Organizations: CNN, Biden, University of Georgia School of Law, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, Republican, Democratic, Cato Institute . Chief, State of, Consumer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Federation of America, “, Supreme, Securities, Exchange Commission, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, Opportunity Commission, Harvard Law School, Center, Labor, American Cancer Society, US Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Health, Human Services, Medicare, Services, Medicaid, Human Services Department, HHS, O’Neill Institute for National, Global Health Law, Georgetown University, FDA, Federal Communications Commission, EPA, National, Traffic Safety Administration, University of California, Natural Resources Defense Council Locations: Obamacare, Chevron, State, Washington , DC, Texas, Littler, Los Angeles

☆ Friday, June 28, 2024: Cramer favors these three big names
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Friday, June 28, 2024: Cramer favors these three big namesJim discusses why he believes these FTC-targeted stocks are buys. He also talks about pricing at consumer staples. Finally, he breaks down this energy stock's growth strategy.

Persons: Cramer, Jim

☆ Investing in Space: Why ULA needs to launch its second Vulcan rocket as soon as possible
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. A great example of that from this week is United Launch Alliance's Cert-2 mission. Enter the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. Well, the Pentagon's already bought a whole bunch of Vulcan launches and expects two of those missions – USSF-106 and USSF-87 – to fly before the end of the year. That was back when Blue Origin had a BE-4 engine explode during acceptance testing — an engine that was intended for the Cert-2 launch.

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, Tory Bruno, ULA, ULA's, Bruno, Tom Vice, Frank Calvelli, Lockheed Martin, Jeff Bezos, I'm Organizations: Cert, Pentagon, National Security, SpaceX, Space Force, Force, Sierra Space's, USSF, Air Force, Boeing, Lockheed, Vulcan, BE, V Locations: ULA

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Tesla, Disney, Gap, Ford, Rivian, Apple, Tesla, Uber, Exxon & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy The firm named Nvidia to its best-of-breed list. Goldman Sachs reiterates Microsoft as buy Goldman said it's sticking with its buy rating on the stock. "We reiterate our Buy rating ($515 Price Target) on Microsoft as we see the company yielding strong returns on its Gen-AI investments." "We are initiating on Carpenter Technology (CRS) with a Buy rating and $144 target price (47% upside potential)." "We are initiating coverage on Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) with a BUY rating and $18 PT."

Persons: BoB, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, it's, TD Cowen, Zeta, Raymond James downgrades Penn, Raymond James, Wells, Tapestry's, Tesla, Piper Sandler, Uber, Piper, AMZN, Morgan Stanley, Ford, Evercore, Truist, Guggenheim, Rivian, Robinson, CHRW, Maxim, MicroStrategy Organizations: Bank of America, Nvidia, Disney, Microsoft, Technology, RBC, Zeta Global, PENN, UBS, Exxon, Deutsche Bank, Carpenter Technology, Tesla, Ford, TAP, Ball Corp, Rivian Automotive, Inc, Apple Locations: Capri, HNST

☆ After almost 30 years, Amazon's original book business is booming, leaked document shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

This is according to a detailed internal document obtained by Business Insider that reveals a host of new information and insights about Amazon's book business and the broader publishing landscape. Reliable data on this industry is limited or tightly controlled, so it's sometimes difficult to get handle on the scope of the book business. "Monopoly power"Amazon's book business has drawn antitrust scrutiny over the years. The company doesn't publicly disclose book sales, nor does it give a revenue breakdown of each retail category. The US accounts for over half of the salesThe document reveals a few staggering numbers that show how big Amazon's book business is.

Persons: —, John Warren, George Washington University's, doesn't, Lindsay Hamilton, Noble, Warren, Hamilton Organizations: Service, Business, Amazon, Federal, American Booksellers Association, FTC, Justice Department, BI, GMS, Barnes, Costco, Pew Research Center, George Washington University Locations: Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Spain, Australia

☆ AI could become a lawyer's greatest help in the courtroom
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Matthew S. Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Courtesy of Danielle BeneckeA lawyer's copilotFounded in 1949, Baker McKenzie has over 6,500 lawyers working in 70 offices worldwide. The firm's work building generative AI to produce legal draft advice for high-volume employment-law questions recently won an award from Law.com. Courtesy of Jake HellerAI won't replace lawyersThere's another fear likely to push lawyers toward AI: other lawyers. Lawyers might also turn to AI to address a force meant to tame AI: regulation. "I think in three to five years, not using AI for legal work will be tantamount to refusing to use online search for legal work today," Ziniti said.

Persons: Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Cohen, isn't, Danielle Benecke, Baker McKenzie, Benecke, Cecilia Ziniti, It's, copilot, Ziniti, Cecilia Ziniti Ziniti, CoCounsel, CoCounsel isn't, Jake Heller, Thomson, Heller, they'd, it's Organizations: Google, Law.com, Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, AI's, IBM, CoCounsel, Thomson Reuters, Times, American Bar Association

☆ FTC refers TikTok complaint to Justice Department
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The TikTok logo is displayed at TikTok offices on March 12, 2024 in Culver City, California. The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that it's referred its complaint against TikTok and Chinese parent ByteDance to the U.S. Department of Justice. The FTC began its investigation following a 2019 settlement with Musical.ly, the predecessor to TikTok, that was related to violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The FTC was probing to see if TikTok violated a federal law that prohibits "unfair and deceptive" business practices. TikTok didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, didn't, Joe Biden, — CNBC's Lora Kolodny Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, U.S . Department of Justice, FTC, DOJ, TikTok, U.S Locations: Culver City , California, Musical.ly, U.S

☆ Tensions mount at troubled mental health startup Cerebral as another investor files a lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe infighting at mental health startup Cerebral is in full swing after an investor filed a lawsuit alleging another of the company's backers cost Cerebral hundreds of millions of dollars in value. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Access Industries' representative on Cerebral's board, Nami Park, is also an individual defendant in the lawsuit. But after Access filed its lawsuit against WestCap and Cerebral in April, that self-tender never happened, the June suit claims. With that offer buried, SoftBank still occupies one of six seats on Cerebral's board of directors.

Persons: —, WestCap, Len Blavatnik, Nami, WestCap's countersuit, would've, could've, WestCap's, SoftBank Organizations: Service, Access Industries, Business, Industries, WestCap, US Department of Justice, hasn't, Rock Health, Federal Trade Commission, FTC Locations: Delaware

☆ OpenAI ex-employees worry about company's control over their millions of dollars in shares
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

However, current and former OpenAI employees have been increasingly concerned about access to liquidity, according to interviews and documents shared internally. "We're incredibly sorry that we're only changing this language now," an OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC after the company changed course. In at least two tender offers, the sales limit for former employees was $2 million, compared to $10 million for current employees. In addition to current and former employees, OpenAI has a third tier for share sales that consists of ex-employees who now work at competitors. OpenAI said it's never canceled a current or former employee's vested equity or required a repurchase at $0.

Persons: Sam Altman, Jason Redmond, OpenAI, Slack, Siri, Ilya Sutskever, Jan Leike, Altman's, Sarah Friar, Larry Albukerk, Albukerk, CNBC they've, it's, Doug Brayley Organizations: Microsoft, AFP, Getty, CNBC, Apple, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Nvidia, OpenAI, EB Exchange, Ropes & Gray Locations: Redmond , Washington, OpenAI, California

☆ Americans tired of sky-high borrowing costs will be disappointed this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Another month, another hot jobs report that has Wall Street wondering when the Federal Reserve will finally cut interest rates. On the other, it puts long-awaited interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve on the back burner. Before the Bell: Do you think the Fed could lower its projection for three quarter-point rate cuts this year? Is it concerning that the European Central Bank and Bank of Canada have begun cutting rates before the Fed? A Samsung spokesperson told CNN that, “there is no impact on production and management activities” as a result of the one-day walkout.

Persons: Bell, Nate Thooft, I’m, that’s, Yoonjung Seo, —, Son Woomok, Matt Egan, Lina Khan, Beam, Robinson Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Manulife Investment Management, Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Canada, European Central Bank and Bank of Canada, Workers, Samsung Electronics, Nationwide Samsung Electronics Union, CNN, Reuters, Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron Technology, Federal Trade Commission, Southern, Biden, FTC, Politico Locations: New York, South Korea, Miami, United States

☆ Is a recession coming? Economists say look at women’s lips
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Estee Lauder chairman Leonard Lauder created the lipstick index during the economic downturn following September 11, 2001. In fall 2001, US lipstick sales increased by 11%. “The lipstick index has been substituted with the moisturizing index,” said Freda. But data shows that more expensive prestige beauty sales are outpacing mass, lower-priced beauty sales. What do you see dominating the beauty market in the second half of the year?

Persons: Estee Lauder, Leonard Lauder, Fabrizio Freda, ”, Freda, “, Sephora, Bell, Neela Montgomery, Laura Mercier, We’ve, it’s, Skincare, It’s, we’re, Inflection’s, OpenAI, Sarah Myers West, ” West, Brian Fung, Jerome Powell, Price Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, FTC, Justice Department, Google, Nvidia, DOJ, US Department of Treasury, OPEC Monthly, Federal Reserve, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Signet Jewelers, Federal Locations: New York, Asia

☆ How a Depression-era law could be used to make your booze cheaper
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Southern Glazer’s, based in Miami and operating in 44 US states, is the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States. Abandoned antitrust law from 1936The FTC lawsuit, previously reported by Politico, could come in the next few weeks and would rely on the Robinson-Patman Act of 1936, the source said. That Depression-era law prohibits suppliers from providing deeper discounts to large chains than to smaller stores. At the time, the antitrust law was aimed at helping smaller grocers survive when A&P and other chains dominated with lower prices. However, a person familiar with the matter said Southern Glazer’s discounts are available to all retailers where permitted by state law.

Persons: Lina Khan, Beam, Robinson, it’s, McCormick, “ It’s, It’s, hasn’t, Alden Abbott, Trump, ’, ”, Abbott, George Mason University’s, “, Patman, Ed Schwartz, Reed Smith, Lee Hepner, Hepner, Chris Jones, Jones, Schwartz, Khan Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Southern, Biden, FTC, Politico, Walmart, Patman, RPA, Congress, American Economic Liberties, National Grocers Association, Street Competition Coalition, Southern Glazer’s Locations: Miami, United States, Southern

☆ Senators demand UnitedHealth own patient data hack
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Federal law known as the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) generally requires health care providers to notify people within 60 days of discovering a breach affecting their personal health data. The Department of Health and Human Services is already investigating whether UnitedHealth is compliant with HIPAA obligations to protect patient data. HHS can use HIPAA to fine companies for failing to protect patient data. The department announced a $4.75 million settlement in February with a nonprofit hospital system in New York for “data security failures” that the department said resulted in an employee stealing and selling patient data. On May 31, the HHS Office for Civil Rights clarified that health care providers can delegate that obligation to Change Healthcare.

Persons: Andrew, New Hampshire Democratic Sen, Maggie Hassan, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, ”, Eric Hausman, Hassan, Blackburn, Sen, Ron Wyden, UnitedHealth’s Organizations: Washington CNN, UnitedHealth, New, New Hampshire Democratic, Tennessee Republican, of Health, Human Services, CNN, HHS, Healthcare, Civil Rights, American Hospital Association, Optum, Capitol, Senate, Oregon Democrat, Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Locations: New Hampshire, Tennessee, New York, Wyden

☆ Washington is waking up to AI’s risks about three years too late
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

(Which is ironic, given that one of the priorities of the roadmap is making sure AI doesn’t, like, hijack the American electoral process.) All of that money was able flood in because the notoriously tech-challenged lawmakers in Washington have been largely asleep at the wheel. (European officials, meanwhile, formally adopted the world’s first standalone AI law this spring, a full five years after rules were proposed.) Until recently, AI was a largely academic subject rarely discussed outside of Silicon Valley. ”AI companies have strong financial incentives to avoid effective oversight,” they wrote in an open letter this week.

Persons: CNN Business ’, hasn’t, ”, OpenAI, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Big Tech, Antitrust, FTC, Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, Apple Locations: New York, United States, Washington, Silicon Valley

☆ Amazon, Best Buy, Google may soon sell home smart devices with 'hacker-safe' label
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

"Once a manufacturer receives certification for the Trust Mark, they will need additional time to retool their packaging, as well as shipping updated products from the manufacturer to retailers," he said. In 2024, according to research firm Statista, nearly 70 million homes in the U.S. are actively using smart devices, up more than 10% from last year. Staffers from Consumer Reports attended a White House meeting during which the Cyber Trust Mark program was announced. Barry Mainz, CEO of Forescout Technologies, a cybersecurity provider, says he is a big fan of the Cyber Trust Mark. Steps to take now to protect your home internetThere are actions consumers can take right now, before the Cyber Trust Mark program kicks in, to harden their cybersecurity.

Persons: Biden, Jessica Rosenworcel, Nicholas Leiserson, David Grossman, What's, Stacey Higginbotham, Higginbotham, Grossman, Barry Mainz, Mark — Organizations: Federal Drug Administration, National, Traffic Safety Administration, National Institute of Standards, Technology, NIST, Federal Communications Commission, U.S . Cyber, Energy Star, Cyber, Energy, Google, LG Electronics, Logitech, Samsung Electronics, FCC, Auburn University's, Institute, Consumer Technology Association, Park Associates, Consumer Reports, White, Survey, Consumer, Forescout Technologies Locations: U.S, Washington, Mainz

Club holdings Microsoft and Best Buy were the subject of upbeat Wall Street research, while TJX Companies hit an intraday high Friday on the same day it announced plans to enter a new international market. BBY YTD mountain Best Buy year-to-date performance The news: Loop Capital increased its Best Buy price target to $100 from $93 while maintaining its buy rating on the stock. On the stock, Loop sees Best Buy trading at a "significant discount" to the valuations of other retailers with relatively slow growth. Shares of Best Buy were slightly lower Friday, though they hit a new 52-week high Friday of $89 each earlier in the session. TJX YTD mountain TJX Companies (TJX) year-to-date performance The news: TJX Companies is expanding into Mexico.

Persons: Oppenheimer, OpenAI, Copilot, it's, we're, Jim, I'm, bode, Citigroup's, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Axo, Ernie Herrman, TJX, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Shannon Stapleton Organizations: Microsoft, TJX Companies, Analysts, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, Club, Amazon, TJX, Grupo Axo, Axo, Black Locations: Mexico, Chile, Peru, Maxx, U.S, Westbury , New York

☆ Wall Street is putting its foot down as ‘Roaring Kitty’ sends GameStop soaring again
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

That means that Gill has the right to purchase 12 million shares of GameStop at $20 apiece by a set expiration date. GameStop shares closed Wednesday at $46.55 a share, more than double the price locked in by those options. Gill hasn’t explicitly told anyone to buy GameStop shares or that he thinks it’s headed to the moon. In comparison, shares of GameStop and AMC Entertainment have surged 167% and 99%, respectively, since Gill’s return to social media. Keith Gill, a GameStop investor, also known in social media forums as Roaring Kitty, testifies during a virtual hearing on GameStop in Washington, Feb. 18, 2021.

Persons: Kitty, Keith Gill, Gill, Michael M, Gill hasn’t, it’s, Jay Woods, Woods, hasn’t, Morgan Stanley, Gill isn’t, copycats, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett, Chubb, ”, Bill Galvin, Gill’s, Hanna Ziady, Christine Lagarde —, ” —, Read, OpenAI, Brian Fung, Inflection’s, didn’t, Keith Gill’s Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, GameStop, AMC Entertainment, CNN, Gamestop, New York Stock Exchange, Street, Freedom Capital, Berkshire, The Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Financial, Traders, stoke, Wall, Retail, Roaring Kitty YouTube, European Central Bank, US Federal Reserve, Bank of England, ECB, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Justice Department, Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, of Justice Locations: New York, New York City, Massachusetts, Washington, Europe

☆ Microsoft's 'acquihire' of Inflection AI's staff is being probed by US regulators, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The FTC is investigating Microsoft's deal with Inflection AI, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Department of Justice is also scrutinizing such 'acquihire' deals in the tech industry. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe US' top competition watchdog is investigating whether Microsoft's deal to hire a majority of Inflection AI's workers and pay the company $650 million to license its tech was struck as a way to dodge scrutiny.

Persons: — Organizations: FTC, Wall Street Journal, Justice, Service, Wall Street, Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, Business

☆ Cramer says Danaher is a buy and weighs in on probes of Microsoft and Nvidia
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. "It's a benign day ahead of tomorrow's number," Jim Cramer said. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

Persons: Jim Cramer, OpenAI, Jim, They're, Danaher, Goldman Sachs, Charles, it's, Jim Cramer's Organizations: CNBC, Federal Reserve, Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, Nvidia, Microsoft, FTC, DOJ, Wall Locations: U.S

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (L) speaks with Microsoft Chief Technology Officer and Executive VP of Artificial Intelligence Kevin Scott during the Microsoft Build conference at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2024. The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department are set to open antitrust investigations into Microsoft , OpenAI and Nvidia , examining the powerful companies' influence on the artificial intelligence industry, a source familiar confirmed to CNBC. The FTC will take the lead on looking into Microsoft and OpenAI, while the DOJ will focus on Nvidia, and the investigations will focus on the companies' conduct, rather than mergers and acquisitions, according to the source. The news also follows the FTC's January decision to conduct an extensive study on AI industry heavyweights, including Amazon , Alphabet , Microsoft, Anthropic and OpenAI. Microsoft and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Sam Altman, Kevin Scott, Anthropic, Claude chatbots, that's, Lina Khan, Khan, OpenAI, — CNBC's Eamon Javers Organizations: Microsoft Chief Technology, Artificial, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Nvidia, CNBC, FTC, DOJ, New York Times, Google, Meta Locations: Redmond , Washington

☆ Microsoft’s AI deal under federal investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Any investigations would focus on whether the companies have used their dominant positions in the AI industry to harm competition. Microsoft, Inflection and Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment; Nvidia and OpenAI declined to comment. For years, technology critics and regulators have worried that major tech companies may be monopolizing entire sectors of the economy. One way for tech giants to wield anticompetitive influence in the AI sector, critics say, is through exclusive partnerships with AI startups. Those types of deals, including Microsoft’s relationship with OpenAI, is the subject of an ongoing study by the FTC announced in January.

Persons: OpenAI, Inflection’s, Google didn’t Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Justice Department, Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, CNN, of Justice, ’, European Union, Apple, Meta Locations: United States

☆ FTC prepares to sue largest U.S. alcohol distributor, alleging 'secret kickbacks'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, speaks during the 2024 CNBC CEO Council Summit in Washington, D.C. on June 4, 2024. The Federal Trade Commission is preparing an antitrust lawsuit against the largest U.S. alcohol distributor, Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, two sources familiar with the matter told CNBC. But one source said the commission is likely to allege that Southern Glazer's has been providing "secret kickbacks" to large retail customers and violating the 1936 Robinson-Patman Act. Florida-based Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits distributes alcohol for over 7,000 brands in 44 states. Under the FTC's interpretation, the Robinson-Patman Act is not a wholesale ban on price discrimination and could allow volume discounts.

Persons: Lina Khan, Robinson Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, Summit, Southern, Politico, Forbes Locations: Washington ,, Southern, Florida

☆ FTC Chair Lina Khan and DOJ's Jonathan Kanter on antitrust policy, monopolies and consumer impact
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFTC Chair Lina Khan and DOJ's Jonathan Kanter on antitrust policy, monopolies and consumer impactCNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin reports on the highlights from his interview with FTC Chair Lina Khan and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter at the CNBC CEO Summit in Washington, DC.

Persons: Lina Khan, DOJ's Jonathan Kanter, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Antitrust Jonathan Kanter Organizations: Antitrust, CNBC, Summit Locations: Washington , DC

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