Meta and IBM Headline New AI Alliance, Notably Without Google or Microsoft

In a significant development within the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, a new alliance has been formed with the aim of maintaining openness in the advancement of AI technologies. The coalition, announced on Tuesday, includes a diverse group of organizations, ranging from tech giant Intel to space agency NASA, as well as numerous innovative start-ups. Notably absent from the alliance's founding members, however, are the two juggernauts of the US tech sector, Alphabet Inc. GOOG—the parent company of Google—and Microsoft.

Diverse Coalition Aims to Keep AI Accessible

The new AI Alliance stands as a testament to the willingness of companies and institutions to collaborate in fostering a transparent AI ecosystem. Among the many participants, Meta and IBM have taken a prominent role, underscoring their commitment to open AI development. This initiative is particularly significant given the absence of GOOG, a widely recognized leader in AI research and applications, and Microsoft. The reasons behind GOOG's and Microsoft's decision not to participate at this stage remain a matter of speculation, but their exclusion casts a spotlight on the competitive dynamics in the field of artificial intelligence.

The Stakes for Alphabet Inc.

Within this context, Alphabet Inc. GOOG stands out. Since the restructuring of Google in 2015, Alphabet has evolved into a robust umbrella for Google and its many offshoots, maintaining a commanding presence in the tech world. The two original founders of Google maintain significant roles within the conglomerate, which prides itself on being the fourth-largest technology company by revenue globally. Alphabet's decision not to align with the new AI Alliance could reflect a strategic choice to preserve the company's competitive advantage or could be indicative of other strategic initiatives yet to be announced.

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