European Commission Tells Meta to Allow Rival AI Chatbots on WhatsApp
LONDON - In a week of significant developments across various sectors, the European Union has ordered Meta to allow rival AI chatbots access to WhatsApp, while Apple and Google have agreed to changes in their app stores following regulatory intervention in the UK. Simultaneously, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to assert itself on the world stage, and in the business sector, BP announced cost-cutting measures amid declining profits, and Novo Nordisk sued a rival over alleged "knock-off" weight-loss drugs.
The EU's directive to Meta, announced a day prior, cited a breach of its rules by blocking other AI firms' chatbots from WhatsApp. According to the European Commission, WhatsApp is an "important entry point" for AI chatbots like ChatGPT to reach people, and Meta was accused of abusing its dominant position by blocking them. A Meta spokesperson responded, stating the EU had "no reason" to intervene and had "incorrectly" assumed WhatsApp Business was a key way that people use chatbots.
In the UK, Apple and Google agreed to changes in their app stores after the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) intervened, addressing concerns of an "effective duopoly." The tech giants committed to not giving preferential treatment to their own apps and to be transparent about how others are approved for sale. The CMA's head, Sarah Cardell, stated the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy."
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron called for Europe to act as a global power, warning of growing threats from China, Russia, and the US. Macron stated that Europe faced a "wake-up call" and questioned whether the continent was "ready to become a power" in economy, finance, defense, security, and democratic systems. He made these remarks ahead of an EU summit in Brussels.
In the business world, BP announced a drop in annual profits, reporting 7.5 billion pounds in 2023, down from 8.9 billion pounds the previous year, and increased its target for cost cutting. The oil giant was affected by the fall in crude prices. BP also said it was suspending its share buyback program and cutting spending. The company is shifting its strategy away from renewable energy projects to refocus on oil and gas operations.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, filed a lawsuit against a rival firm for selling what it claims are "unsafe, knock-off" versions of its weight-loss drugs in the US. The Danish company requested US courts to ban Hims & Hers' range of weight-loss pills and injections, alleging they are not approved by US authorities and infringe on its patent. Hims & Hers had launched a new weight-loss pill, leading to the legal action. The rival company subsequently announced it would stop selling the pill, and its share price slumped.
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