How did Google kill the 3 billion dollar Openai deal without a acquisition

Google just dealt with Openai a big blow by avoiding a potential deal worth $ 3 billion, and by doing so, strengthened an escalating trend in the AI Arm Arm race in Silicon Valley: “acquire not to acquire.”

Google announced on July 11 that it stole the main talents of Windsurf to start the AI RISING quickly, which until then was reported to have a $ 3 billion acquisition with Openai that has now collapsed. Instead, go Google $ 2.4 billion To employ the best Windsurf employees, including the company’s CEO, and a non -exclusive license to its technology, according to Bloomberg.

By overfishing in the brains of Wourf, but you did not get the start itself, Google made two important goals at the same time: Openai momentum has eliminated and gained access to valuable artificial intelligence technology.

Friday’s announcement is only the latest example of the increasingly increasing tactics of the major technology companies looking to develop a competitive advantage. Technology analysts described it as a “acquisition of non -acquisition”, or more simply, “renting acquisition.”

Overfishing wars began

Openai, the company behind Chatgpt, has ignited the current artificial intelligence madness in 2022 and has been a leader in artificial intelligence since then. But its progress in the market faces an increasing challenge by adult technology competitors like Google and Meta, and is now more clear than ever that elite engineers of artificial intelligence are the most valuable currency in this battle for domination.

Recently, Openai has found itself a fundamental goal. After a series of prominent talent raids by Meta, Openai executives described the feeling as if “someone broke into our house and stole something, in an internal note obtained by WIRED.

The largest aggressor in this new era was dead. In April 2025, CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that the company had left competitors in the artificial intelligence race. His comments sparked billions of dollars in spending, characterized by employing strategic talents. Meta, CEO of Scaleii Alexandr Wang, has rented the best AI Mind Pang, and Nat Friedman, former CEO of Microsoft Github, as well as many multi -Openai employees who were lured under multiple -year Millions of Millions. The company collects this talent under a new group dedicated to the development of SuperINGLIGENCE from artificial intelligence called Meta SuperIntelligence Labs.

Microsoft and Amazon were made similar deals for acquisition last year. Microsoft has rented the best employees from AI Startup, including Mustafa Soleyman, who is now leading the Amnesty International Department of Microsoft. Amazon rented the founders of participants and other higher talents from AI AGENT AGEPT ADEPT.

This is not the first Google Rhodio with the survey of the acquisition, too. The technology giant has signed a similar deal with the startup personality. AII almost a year ago, which gave Google a non -exclusive license to LLM technology and witnessed joining the company.

Why rent but not acquire: an organizational vulnerability

Besides being just a symbol of a new era in the AI Arms AI race, this increase in Heasi-Heres reveals a new Big Tech game book to develop its dominance in the market while avoiding scrutiny in fighting monopoly. This tactic follows a period of intense organizational pressure under the former head of the Federal Trade Committee, Lina Khan, whose administration has taken on anti -competition practices in the artificial intelligence industry.

Meta and Google are already subject to intensive audit from FTC.

Meta is awaiting a ruling on a trial to combat monopoly over FTC’s claim that it monopolizes social media. On the other hand, Google dealt with many anti -monopoly defeats last year, accused of monopolies in both online search and online advertising. The company is waiting for the final results of the trial that can see that it is forced to get rid of its browser in Chrome.

Early last year, under the leadership of Khan, the committee also launched an investigation into Microsoft, Amazon and Google because of their investments at Ai Startups Openai and Anthropor.

Under this cloud of organizational pressure, the acquisition employment appears to prove that it is an easy way for large technology to get what you want. Large names acquire all the necessary access to technology and the most important talent for research in emerging companies from artificial intelligence without the need to go to obstacles in the official acquisition process.

To move forward, it is now up to the current FTC, under the appointed president from Trump Andrew Ferguson, to determine his position on this practice. Although he was not seen as the same type of militants against Big Tech, such as Khan, Ferguson has largely continued to follow up on previous administration’s investigations, even with President Trump entertaining the Silicon Valley leaders in Mar Lago.

You choose how you choose FTC’s FTC and Trump administration in general, or not, for this new wave of organizational gaps will determine the future of large American technology and artificial intelligence industry as a whole.