An AI Replay of the Browser Wars, Bankrolled by Google

(Bloomberg Opinion) — A quarter of a century ago, when Microsoft Corp. used its dominance of the personal computer market to force people to use Internet Explorer, it famously led to a devastating antitrust lawsuit loss that some believe held the company back for more than a decade. Only now, revitalized by Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella’s quick moves in artificial intelligence, is the Windows-maker back on top. As AI rivalries intensify, Google is now trying to put Microsoft through its ’90s nightmare again.

The search giant is funding the Browser Choice Alliance, an industry group involving Google and a number of smaller browser makers, such as Opera, Vivaldi and others, set up to put pressure on Microsoft.