According to Bloomberg News, Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) has threatened to cut off access to its internet-search data, which it licenses to rival search engines if they do not stop using it as the basis for its own artificial intelligence chat products.
According to the news agency, the company has informed at least two customers that using its Bing search index – a map of the internet that can be scanned in real-time – to feed their AI chat tools violates the terms of their contract.
Based in Redmond, Washington According to Bloomberg, Microsoft may also terminate licenses that provide access to its search index.
In February, Microsoft announced that it was revamping its Bing search engine and Edge Web browser with artificial intelligence, signaling its intention to retake the lead in consumer technology markets where it had fallen behind.
Users began receiving the upgraded Bing search engine late last month.
