U.S. Judge Raises Concerns About AI Superseding Traditional Search

At a federal hearing today, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta pressed both the Justice Department and Google’s legal team on how generative AI tools could fundamentally alter the way people find information online. He questioned whether answers delivered directly by AI assistants might render standard search engines obsolete—and what measures a court could impose to preserve competition. Suggestions under discussion range from sharing Google’s search data with rivals to altering browser default settings. As AI-driven products reshape the industry, this antitrust trial is emerging as a key barometer for how regulators will adapt legal frameworks to the next generation of search technology.