Amazon’s AWS and Microsoft’s Azure Face EU Probe Into Cloud Power

Citadel Securities LLC has initiated trading for two baskets of corporate bonds from major tech companies including Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Meta Platforms Inc. This move comes as investors seek more liquid options to engage in substantial investments in artificial intelligence.

The European Union has announced a comprehensive plan to streamline digital regulations aimed at enhancing competitiveness in the artificial intelligence sector and supporting local tech companies. This initiative reflects the EU's commitment to fostering innovation and reducing bureaucratic hurdles for technology firms.

Teresa Ribera, the European Union’s competition chief, announced that regulators are reviewing a significant offer from Google aimed at addressing alleged antitrust violations related to its advertising technology business. This scrutiny follows a substantial fine of nearly €3 billion ($3.5 billion) imposed on Google for these violations.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Germany and France are seeking to postpone the implementation of certain provisions of the European Union's AI Act, which regulates high-risk artificial intelligence systems, by one year. This decision reflects concerns over the readiness and implications of such regulations on the technology sector.

Microsoft has reported that its Azure cloud computing platform was targeted by a massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, which originated from over 500,000 unique IP addresses. This attack marks another record-breaking incident attributed to the group known as Aisuru. The scale of the attack highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in cloud infrastructure and the increasing sophistication of cyber threats faced by major technology companies.

Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. are set to invest up to $15 billion in Anthropic PBC, a significant move that strengthens the AI developer's ties to two major competitors of OpenAI. This investment reflects the growing interest and competition in the artificial intelligence sector, as companies seek to enhance their capabilities and offerings in this rapidly evolving field.

The European Union is contemplating increased scrutiny for the cloud businesses of Amazon and Microsoft. This consideration comes amid ongoing discussions about the regulatory landscape for major technology companies, particularly in the context of market power and competition. The EU's assessment aims to determine if additional regulations are necessary to ensure fair competition in the cloud services sector.