Seeking growth, UK competition regulator probes Apple and Google – Computerworld

What the CMA wants

Newly appointed CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said: “The operating systems, apps and browsers installed on our phones and tablet devices act as our gateway into the digital world, whether that is communicating with our friends and loved ones, buying from businesses or accessing creative content. More competitive mobile ecosystems could foster new innovations and new opportunities across a range of services that millions of people use, be they app stores, browsers or operating systems.”

In the fantasy economics at play here, the CMA argues that better competition could “boost growth” in the UK, enabling UK businesses to offer “new and innovative types of product and services on Apple’s and Google’s platforms” and introduce innovative new products and services.

Saying the quiet part out loud, the regulator suggests these amazing innovations could include AI products and services and new types of “super apps” accessed through a mobile browser. The latter is likely music to the ears of Elon Musk, who has long dreamed of turning X into such a service. It must also be noted that AI is certainly part of the intention here; this likely ends with a full-front battle regarding user data privacy.