The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is scrutinizing Amazon’s $4 billion investment in the AI startup Anthropic. Announced in March 2024, the deal includes a major commitment for Anthropic to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its primary cloud provider. The CMA is evaluating whether this partnership might hinder competition or create an unfair advantage in the rapidly growing AI sector.

Anthropic has stressed its independence, noting that Amazon does not have a seat on its board or observer rights. Meanwhile, Amazon contends that the investment supports competition by helping Anthropic become a significant player in a market dominated by a few large firms. This review is part of a broader regulatory focus on major tech partnerships, with the CMA also examining similar deals involving Google, Microsoft, and other AI companies.