Microsoft Threatens to Cut Off Access to Bing Search Data for Rival Machines That Use AI Chat Products

JAKARTA - Microsoft Corp. has threatened to cut off access to its internet search data, which it licensed to a rival search engine, if they don't stop using it as the basis for their own artificial intelligence chat product, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, March 24.

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

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, could also end the license giving access to its search index, Bloomberg added.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The maker of the Windows operating system said in February that it would update its Bing search engine and Edge web browser with artificial intelligence, signaling its ambition to reclaim a leading position in the consumer technology market where it has been lagging behind.

The enhanced Bing search engine rolled out to users at the end of last month.