When the government launched an antitrust lawsuit against Google five years ago , it was all about whether the tech giant had a monopoly on internet search. But by the time the judge ruled on punishments for the company this month, the future of artificial intelligence was front and center.

Federal district court judge Amit Mehta tried to thread a needle with his latest ruling , rapping Google for its stranglehold over search without hobbling its ability to compete in the newer field of generative artificial intelligence as chatbots grow in importance.

Mehta recognized the challenge, writing, "the court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future. Not exactly a judge's forte."

Some analysts fear he may not have done enough to put Google in check, though, beca

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