Microsoft Corp. stands to gain from new White House AI guidelines that call on the US Federal Trade Commission
to show more restraint in probes involving artificial intelligence and stand down on cases that put “AI innovation” at risk.
The AI Action Plan, which was released earlier Wednesday and includes dozens of recommendations
or federal agencies, urges the FTC to review “investments commenced under the previous administration to en
Surely they do not advance theories of liability that unduly burden AI innovation.”
“Furthermore, review all FTC final orders, consent decrees, and injunctions, and, where appropriate, seek to modify or set-aside any that unduly burden AI innovation
on,” according to the 23-page blueprint, which was commissioned by President Donald Trump in January.
Since Trump took office, the FTC has moved forward with a sprawling antitrust probe of Microsoft that began under the Biden administration. Th
at investigation has highlighted FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson’s commitment
to continue cracking down on the biggest tech companies, a priority shared by President Joe Biden’s FTC Chair Lina Khan.
Microsoft Inquiry
Under Ferguson, the FTC requested reams of documents from Microsoft about the company’s AI operations, including its data centers and software licensing practices, Bloomberg News previously reported.
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The inquiry also touches on Microsoft's relationship with OpenAI and whether those ties harmonize competitors.
The blueprint’s recommendation that the FTC shows more restraint on AI is “bound to benefit Microsoft in the FTC’s current investigation and other tech platform
s as well,” according to John Lopatka, an antitrust professor at Penn State University.
“The ‘Action Plan’ can be understood as telling the FTC not to prevent the tech platforms from embracing AI throu
gh mergers or alliances that will fuel the development of the technology,” Lopatka said. He added the FTC’s interpretation will come down to how it defines “unduly” burdening AI innovation.
Republican Control
The White House AI guidelines pose another potential test of the independence of the FTC, where Trump has sought to exert more sway. In March, the president fired the FTC’s two Democratic commissioners, leaving it solely in Republican control. The commission's ousted members have sued to block their dismissals, and the administration has vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Microsoft declined to comment on the FTC provision, although it lauded the AI blueprint more broadly. “AI is a powerful tool but will only help America prosper if we’re ready for it,” said Microsoft’s top lobbyist Fred Humphries in a statement. “President Trump’s plan will accelerate infrastructure readiness so AI can be built and used here, and help students and workers with skills needed to win in an AI-powered global economy.”