10 High-Potential AI Stocks to Watch Right Now

2. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 317

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) provides AI-powered cloud, productivity, and business solutions, focusing on efficiency, security, and AI advancements. On March 5^th, it was announced that the UK competition watchdog has ended its investigation into the partnership between Microsoft and the artificial intelligence company OpenAI.

According to Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the software giant did not have the level of control over the AI Company to warrant further investigation. Back in 2013, the CMA said that it was assessing whether Microsoft’s $13 billion investment into the AI startup gave it de facto control over OpenAI policy, raising competition concerns.

“We have found that there has not been a change of control by Microsoft from material influence to de facto control over OpenAI. Because this change of control has not happened, the partnership in its current form does not qualify for review under the UK’s merger control regime.”

– CMA’s executive director for mergers, Joel Bamford.

Bamford did add that the decision should “not be read as the partnership being given a clean bill of health on competition concerns”.

According to a Microsoft spokesperson, the partnership with OpenAI and its continued evolution “promote competition, innovation, and responsible AI development”.

“We welcome the CMA’s conclusion, after careful and prudent consideration of the commercial realities, to close its investigation.”