DOJ launches antitrust probe into Nvidia's $17 billion Groq licensing deal
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Nvidia circumvented antitrust rules in its $17 billion licensing agreement with AI chip maker Groq.
The Justice Department began examining Nvidia's $17 billion licensing arrangement with AI startup Groq soon after the deal was disclosed in December. Under the agreement, Groq received a non-exclusive license to its chip technology, and Nvidia recruited multiple Groq leaders, among them founder Jonathan Ross. Officials have sent Nvidia a formal demand for information about the transaction, signaling a potential antitrust inquiry.
The probe focuses on whether Nvidia attempted to sidestep standard competition scrutiny. While penalties could include monetary fines, the agency is not expected to require unwinding the agreement. Neither Nvidia nor Groq responded to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
