Kate Parker

Google’s lurch: how to fix its monopoly

Rosie Bloor, Alice Fullwood, Kate Parker, Vishnu Padmanabhan

The US Department of Justice has proposed remedies to dismantle Google's alleged search monopoly, which generates roughly $26 billion annually through exclusive default agreements, with final penalties to be decided in a trial next year. While Google faces potential restrictions on paying for default status and mandatory data sharing to foster competition, the agency must also weigh the rising threat of generative AI as a market disruptor. Concurrently, global water utilities are deploying advanced leak detection technologies, including acoustic loggers and in-pipe robots, to combat aging infrastructure losses despite significant capital costs and regulatory hurdles. These technical solutions are increasingly supported by government green transition funds aimed at mitigating water scarcity, even as trials continue to address contamination risks associated with autonomous repair systems.