Microsoft threatens to restrict data from rival AI search tools- Bloomberg News

Reuters

Published Mar 24, 2023 09:37PM ET

Updated Mar 26, 2023 10:50PM ET

(Reuters) -Microsoft Corp has threatened to cut off access to its internet-search data, which it licenses to rival search engines, if they do not stop using it as the basis for their own artificial intelligence chat products, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

The company has told at least two customers that using its Bing search index - a map of the internet that can be scanned in real time - to feed their AI chat tools violates the terms of their contract, the news agency said, citing people familiar with the dispute.

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) may also terminate licenses providing access to its search index, Bloomberg added.

"We've been in touch with partners who are out of compliance as we continue to consistently enforce our terms across the board," a Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters, adding that the company will continue to work with them directly and give information needed to find a path forward.