Google faces DOJ probe over Character.AI deal
HighlightsThe United States Justice Department is investigating whether Alphabet's Google violated antitrust laws in its licensing agreement with Character.AI, which allows Google to utilize the AI startup's technology. Regulators are examining if Google structured its agreement with Character.AI to evade formal merger scrutiny, amid concerns over anti-competitive practices in the tech industry. Google is already facing regulatory pressure, with the Justice Department pursuing actions to dismantle the company's dominance in the online search market and digital advertising technology.
The U.S. Justice Department is probing whether Alphabet's Google violated antitrust law in its agreement with Character.AI that allows the tech giant to use the AI startup's technology, Bloomberg Law reported on Thursday.
Antitrust enforcers have recently told Google they are examining whether the company structured the agreement with Character.AI to avoid formal government merger scrutiny, the report said, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Google last year signed a licensing deal with Character.AI that granted the search engine giant a non-exclusive license to the chatbot maker's large language model technology.
The company also hired Character.AI co-founders Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, both former Google employees.
"We're always happy to answer any questions from regulators," a Google spokesperson said. "We're excited that talent from Character.AI joined the company but we have no ownership stake and they remain a separate company."
Character.AI and the
DOJ
did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The DOJ can scrutinize whether the deal itself is anti-competitive even if it did not require a formal review, the report said, adding the antitrust probe was in the early stages and may not lead to an enforcement action.
Other tech giants have struck similar deals in the past year in their push for growth in the heated generative AI race.
Microsoft struck a $650 million deal with Inflection AI in March 2024, to use the AI startup's models and hire its staff, while Amazon hired AI firm Adept's co-founders and some of its team last June. Both deals had drawn regulatory scrutiny.
Google is already under pressure from regulators, with the DOJ seeking to break up the company's dominance in the online search market and in digital advertising technology in two separate cases.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission backed the DOJ's proposal to make Google share search data with competitors.
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
OnePlus Pad 3 review: This powerful device further blurs the line between tablets and computers
'Don't buy a tablet, buy a real computer.' I am sure you have heard this advice from tech reviewers like us in the past. I don't entirely blame my community—there was a time when tablets were too underpowered to handle basic computing tasks, let alone compete with a laptop. And I am not talking about a decade ago; even as recently as the Covid-19 pandemic, that was still the case. But something has changed in the past two to three years. Tablets have become significantly more powerful and have started to feel much more like real computers. Not all tablets, of course—but a segment of high-performance models has emerged, packing impressive power and offering features like built-in keyboard cases, multitasking capabilities, and long battery life. On the Android side, there's noticeable momentum—a push from brands to create pro-grade tablets that can compete with Apple's iPad Air and even the highest-end iPad Pro, though the options are still limited. The latest OnePlus Pad 3, for example, takes on premium tablets with a slimmed-down design, a 13.2-inch display, faster performance, upgraded multitasking features, and it runs Google's Android operating system. I won't lie—I had low expectations for the Pad 3, and I wasn't sure if OnePlus could deliver a truly powerful tablet. To be clear, there are already solid tablets on the market that excel at entertainment, but I was looking for something closer to a laptop replacement. That meant I had even higher expectations for the Pad 3: a tablet that could outperform not only media-focused tablets, but also a fast, mid-range laptop. I spent over a week with the OnePlus Pad 3, and used the device as my laptop replacement. Here's my review. What: OnePlus Pad 3, Price: to be announced (at the time of writing, OnePlus has not released the India price, but in the US, the device costs $700 and accessories, including the keyboard case with a trackpad, cost extra.) At 5.97mm, OnePlus has managed to create one of the slimmest tablets I have seen. It's slightly thicker than the iPad Pro, which, at 5.1mm, is currently the thinnest tablet on the market. I was astonished to see how slim the Pad 3 was when I placed it on the table. I have always liked lightweight devices—they are much easier to travel with, especially for someone like me who travels frequently. That thin design is complemented by a premium build featuring a sturdy aluminium casing. There's no doubt the Pad is large, with a 13.2-inch screen measured diagonally. Larger tablets have always been a bit awkward to hold, mainly because the weight is spread over a wider surface area. But because the Pad 3 is thinner and lighter, I find myself picking it up more often. I love reading books on the Kindle app and spend a lot of time on Pinterest or Reddit. While the Pad 3 isn't exactly a one-handed device, the new lighter form factor makes it feel much more like a true tablet. It's more approachable. It's simply easier to handle, and I haven't experienced any situation where it felt like it was about to slip from my hands. I am not sure what the ideal shape of a tablet should be. Most tablets are designed to look similar, and the same goes for the Pad 3. It features a large, jumbo-sized screen framed by a rounded glass rectangle, with bezels wide enough to grip with both hands without interfering with the touch interface. The Pad 3 features a sophisticated yet clean and simple aesthetic. The tablet comes in two colour schemes: Storm Blue and Frosted Silver — both look great. OnePlus loaned me the review unit in Storm Blue, which has shades of dark grey and navy blue. The colour shifts depending on the angle you view it from. The build quality is top-notch — there's no flex at all, and absolutely no reason to say the iPad has better build quality than the Pad 3. In the past, I tried working on a small iPad mini, but it just didn't work for me. I wanted a compact device, but I also needed a larger screen — something big enough to get real work done, the kind of tasks I can normally only do on a laptop. That meant I couldn't settle for an 8-inch or even an 11-inch display; I needed at least a 13-inch screen, which the Pad 3 offers. The larger display not only helps with writing and filing stories, but also greatly improves the experience of watching movies, playing games, doing light photo and video editing, and even attending Zoom calls. Honestly, over the past week or so, I have barely used my TV to watch movies — I have been watching almost everything on the Pad 3. The advantage of a larger screen becomes clear only when you start doing substantial everyday tasks that you typically do on a computer. Multitasking actually becomes useful, and the extra screen space is especially helpful when working on Google Sheets or Slides. The Pad 3 offers a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, which is higher than the 120Hz provided by the iPad Pro. However, it uses an LCD panel rather than OLED. That said, the Pad 3's display is excellent—plenty bright at up to 900 nits, vibrant, and it supports a 12-bit colour range. I watched The Studio on Apple TV+, and the show looked great on the Pad 3's 13.2-inch display—almost like having a portable theatre. Even more impressive are the speakers on this tablet. It features eight speakers—four woofers and four tweeters—and while they don't quite beat the iPad Pro's, I must say they sound incredible. I was able to enjoy the audio clearly even while my parents were sipping tea and chatting nearby. It's that good. While an OLED display would have been a nice addition to the Pad 3, the average user likely won't notice much difference between LCD and OLED—unless you specifically care about true blacks or plan to use the device primarily for video editing. I have been using tablets as laptop replacements for years and have tried hundreds of keyboards—laptop-style, tablet-specific, and universal ones that work across devices. But no matter how good they were, I never quite achieved a true laptop-level typing experience on a tablet. That changed with the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard. Unfortunately, I haven't come across a keyboard made for an Android tablet that matches—or even comes close to—that level of quality. With the Pad 3, however, things are looking up again. The keyboard is one of its strong points. It's sold separately and costs $200. The keyboard includes a spacious trackpad and is a pleasure to type on. What's great about it is that it's not designed to simply mimic a laptop keyboard—it's built to deliver a true laptop-like experience. It's almost full-sized, with good key travel, and typing on it is enjoyable. As a writer, I can say with confidence that not once in the past week have I felt the need to switch back to my laptop. OnePlus' approach to keyboard design is different from what Apple did with the Magic Keyboard, which essentially makes the iPad float in the air. It also feels like it weighs twice as much as the iPad, though it doesn't tip over backwards—even when the screen angle makes it feel top-heavy. What OnePlus has done is attach the keyboard to the Pad 3 via pogo pins, or it can auto-connect via Bluetooth. This means it can be detached from the tablet while still remaining functional. As someone who likes to move around within a space and doesn't enjoy being confined to a desk, I appreciate the freedom to use the tablet however I choose. But like the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, OnePlus' implementation isn't perfect. I've observed that while the Pad 3's keyboard works perfectly well on any flat surface (like a desk), using it on your lap is an awkward experience. The keyboard doesn't use USB-C for charging, so the only way to charge it is by reconnecting it to the tablet—which, fortunately, is automatic and seamless. It also features NFC, which is a nice addition. Just tap your OnePlus phone (I used the new OnePlus 13s) to send files. There's even a dedicated key to trigger Google's Gemini AI assistant. Apart from the keyboard, the tablet also supports the OnePlus Stylo 2, which is sold separately. It hasn't changed from the version that came with the Pad 2. I didn't try the stylus, though. I may be in the majority when I say this: I have always wanted a tablet with a terrific keyboard that gives a true laptop-like experience—something designed for the tablet and not just a third-party add-on. I couldn't be happier that it finally exists on an Android tablet. The OnePlus Pad 3 can be a laptop when I need it to be—and the rest of the time, I can detach the keyboard and use it in tablet mode. My only gripe is that the keyboard lacks backlighting. That's a letdown, especially if you are a night owl and like to work at night. Still, I understand not everyone needs a keyboard, which is why it's sold separately. That said, the OnePlus-designed keyboard is a much better choice if you want to carry around a tablet with a keyboard without feeling like you are lugging a laptop. If you only plan to use the Pad 3 occasionally as a work device, you can easily pair it with any Bluetooth keyboard of your choice—Logitech, for instance, makes some good keyboards. I recommend checking out. One of my criticisms of tablets (including iPads) in recent years is that the user experience hasn't matured to the level of what you get with Windows laptops and Macs. The entire industry is aware of this, and I'm not the only one with a critical take on it. To my surprise, I have started to appreciate how the Android operating system works on tablets more than iPadOS on iPads. There's clear progress on the Android side, both from Google and from various brands. It's not that the user interface has become exactly like a Windows PC—and I don't think that's necessary—but there are subtle changes that I find refreshing. Frankly, phones can already handle many of the tasks you do on a laptop. But you use a computer to do multiple things at the same time—browsing, watching videos, listening to music, writing, working on an assignment, and so on. You get what I am trying to say. The interface on the Pad 3 is different from what you see on a phone. For lack of a better word, let's call it a modified version of Android optimised for tablets. The version of OxygenOS running on the Pad 3 puts its own spin on the Google app bar, which can be dragged into view from the bottom of the screen when using an app, allowing for seamless switching. It shows both recent and pinned apps, along with a quick file browser for system-wide drag-and-drop functionality. Although I am still looking forward to the desktop mode on the Pad 3 (hopefully with the arrival of Android 16), the proprietary multitasking interface—Open Canvas, which first debuted on the OnePlus Open foldable phone—feels much better on the larger screen. It allows you to place three apps side by side, or arrange two side by side with a third app expanded at the top or bottom—just scroll to access it. With a single tap, you can swap the active app—no menus or gestures required. There's also a quick menu at the top of each window that lets you switch to full screen, open a different app, or turn it into a floating window. It works incredibly well and goes far beyond basic split-screen functionality. If you are serious about getting work done, no other Android tablet comes close to the Pad 3—thanks to Open Canvas multitasking. OnePlus hasn't made many changes to the user interface otherwise; it remains close to stock Android with just a handful of its own apps and barely any bloatware. There are plenty of customisation options, including the choice between a combined or split quick settings menu and multiple ways to adjust app icons. There's also an option for a floating toolbar, which you can disable if desired. Keeping up with the trend, there's a dose of AI—but it's not in your face. The voice recorder can use AI to transcribe and summarise your audio, which I used a lot when conducting interviews. Google's Circle to Search is included, and Gemini is the default voice assistant. Meanwhile, the Notes app has a generative writing assistant that can expand, shorten, or polish any text. The photo gallery also benefits from AI features. OnePlus promises three years of Android version updates and six years of security updates. It's decent, but still less than what Samsung offers for its flagship tablets. 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For those who are keen to compare the Pad 3 to the iPad Pro, I would say that Apple's highest-end tablet remains a powerful device. Its chip delivers desktop-class performance, and while the operating system has its flaws, Apple's suite of editing apps and its broader ecosystem provide a significant advantage. That said, the iPad Pro is positioned more as a professional-grade editing machine, designed primarily for video editors and content creators. For example, it can be used as an editing monitor or a colour-grading display—capabilities that put it in a different league beyond what most people typically expect from a tablet. But the OnePlus Pad 3 is no less impressive, and this tablet shows just how far high-end Android tablets have come. I was able to upload and publish stories, edit images in Lightroom, cut videos in Adobe Rush, and multitask between a web browser and file manager with no trouble. 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