Monday, December 1, 2025

From AOL to OpenAI: How Google’s Vertical Integration Risks Echoing the Past – Digitimes

Google’s recent move towards vertical integration, akin to AOL’s past strategies, raises concerns about the future of competition in the tech industry. By consolidating services and technologies, Google could replicate the monopolistic tendencies seen during AOL’s dominance, potentially stifling innovation and limiting consumer choices. The tech giant is enhancing its capabilities through acquisitions and partnerships, aiming to control more aspects of the digital ecosystem, including AI development through OpenAI collaborations. This strategy could lead to decreased market diversity and a resurgence of a tech monopoly reminiscent of earlier internet eras. Industry experts warn that if not checked, such practices may hinder smaller competitors, echoing warnings from the past about monopolistic behavior. As Google prioritizes vertical integration, stakeholders must consider its implications for consumer privacy, market health, and the broader tech landscape.

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