Federal judge rules Google does not have to divest Chrome

Antitrust Ruling Impact - The federal judge's ruling is seen as accommodating to big tech, particularly Google, as it allows Google to maintain its Chrome browser and only requires limited data sharing [3][4] - The ruling is considered a setback for smaller tech companies, as it suggests big tech has more latitude than in the post-Microsoft era [5][6] - The market views the ruling as a "green light" for parts of big tech, with Apple potentially benefiting from continuing to receive high fees from Google as the exclusive search provider [2][4] M&A and Regulatory Landscape - The Trump administration may still impose restrictions on big tech through M&A oversight, despite the court ruling [8][9] - The administration could prevent large acquisitions even if Google maintains its search monopoly [10] - Big tech is actively trying to build relationships with President Trump, indicating concerns about potential regulatory actions [9] Google's Defense and Future Outlook - Google successfully argued that its search monopoly is becoming less relevant due to the rise of AI, highlighting the competition in the AI chat market [11] - Google's argument suggests a shift in focus from search to AI, potentially influencing the court's decision [11]