The EU Commission has officially classified ChatGPT as a very large search engine under the Digital Services Act, according to The Decoder. This designation applies due to ChatGPT's user base exceeding 45 million monthly users within the European Union.
As a result, OpenAI faces new regulatory obligations, including the requirement to provide risk assessments, transparency reports, and maintain an advertising archive by the end of 2026. These measures aim to increase accountability and oversight of AI-driven platforms with significant reach.
This regulatory move signals growing scrutiny over AI technologies in global markets, a trend that Japanese investors and tech companies should closely monitor as similar frameworks may influence domestic policy and investment strategies.