Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to address the concerns of the Chief Executive of the Competition and Markets Authority that a small number of tech companies creating AI Foundation Models are developing partnerships which shape the markets in their own interest.

The Government is committed to ensuring that digital markets work well for businesses and consumers. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will give the CMA new, faster and more effective tools to identify and address competition issues in digital markets, including AI foundation model markets. The Bill is on track to receive Royal Assent in spring subject to parliamentary timings, and we expect the regime will come into force in Autumn this year. In the meantime, the CMA has been using its existing markets and mergers tools to look into AI foundation models.

It will be for the CMA as the independent regulator to decide how to exercise its new and existing powers to address any competition issues in digital markets as they develop.