United Kingdom: Competition and Markets Authority launched a merger investigation into Microsoft and OpenAI partnership

On 4 March 2025, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a merger inquiry into the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI, following a consultation that closed on 3 January 2024. The investigation will assess whether the partnership has resulted in a relevant merger situation and its potential impact on competition in the UK. The CMA will specifically examine whether one company has gained control over the other and whether recent governance changes at OpenAI have affected competition.