The Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to NVIDIA and other companies in an antitrust probe, seeking evidence of potential violations with regards to the company’s AI processors. Officials speculate that NVIDIA may be hindering competition by making it difficult for companies to switch hardware suppliers and penalizing those who don’t exclusively use its technology. The investigation, which began in June, has escalated to include legally binding requests for information. At the core of the probe is NVIDIA’s recent acquisition of RunAI, raising concerns about potential anti-competitive practices. Regulators are also looking into allegations of preferential treatment for customers who exclusively use NVIDIA technology. NVIDIA has responded by emphasizing its value to customers based on merit and performance. While the investigation is still in its early stages and hasn’t led to a formal complaint, the company’s stock took a hit before the DOJ announcement, possibly influenced by delays in its Blackwell AI chip production. Despite this, NVIDIA’s stock remains significantly higher this year due to the ongoing AI boom.
