Y Combinator accuse Google de freiner l’innovation dans la tech

Y Combinator Expresses Concerns Over Google's Market Influence

In an amicus brief filed in the antitrust case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Google, Y Combinator raised concerns regarding Google's dominant market position. The accelerator claims this dominance hinders funding and the emergence of new startups in strategic areas such as online search and artificial intelligence.

Y Combinator's document highlights the presence of a "kill zone," a term describing the reluctance of investors to fund projects that might compete with Google. The brief states that this dynamic discourages venture capital investment in critical areas of the digital economy and contributes to stalling the technological landscape in the United States.

The brief further elaborates: "When Google already occupies a market, startups are often deemed non-investable not due to a lack of ambition or technological quality, but because of the high likelihood that the dominant company will use its market power to stifle their growth."

The brief criticizes two specific Google practices. First, exclusive agreements with device manufacturers or operating systems, such as the default search engine agreement with Safari, which costs Google billions annually. Second, Google's exclusive control over the search index, making it challenging for competitors to train artificial intelligence models.

Y Combinator argues that "it is increasingly difficult for startups developing AI agents or smart response models to compete in an environment where Google controls data, user access, and infrastructure." The accelerator calls for a regulated opening of the search index to other players under transparent conditions.

Y Combinator does not advocate for Google's breakup but suggests a five-year period to review certain practices and establish regulations more conducive to competition. If no significant reforms occur, the brief notes that authorities should consider more stringent structural measures, potentially including business separations.

Garry Tan, President of Y Combinator, summarized the stance: "We do not wish for a principle-based breakup, but we must keep the 'spinoff hammer' as a lever if changes do not materialize."

Y Combinator's position raises questions given its historical and multifaceted ties with Google. Google Cloud has been a longstanding partner, providing startups in the YC program with access to technical resources such as Nvidia GPUs. Moreover, Google has acquired or invested in several startups from Y Combinator's portfolio.

Simultaneously, YC has historical connections with OpenAI, a direct competitor to Google in artificial intelligence. OpenAI was founded under YC Research and initially led by Sam Altman, then President of the accelerator.

This stance reflects a deeper shift in power dynamics between major tech corporations and innovation promoters. The California-based accelerator, historically linked to the rise of tech giants, now appears to advocate for a more pluralistic competitive dynamic. It remains to be seen what influence this position will have in the ongoing proceedings against Google.

D’après FrenchWeb.