The United States Department of Justice is investigating a licensing agreement between Nvidia and the AI accelerator startup Groq. Authorities are examining whether the deal was structured specifically to bypass antitrust oversight.
The investigation began in December 2025, shortly after the agreement was publicly announced. The Department of Justice has already issued a formal request for information to Nvidia regarding the terms of the deal.
Under the agreement, valued at $17 billion, Nvidia secured a non-exclusive license for technologies underlying Groq's chips. Additionally, Nvidia hired several key executives from the startup, including its founder, Jonathan Ross.
While Nvidia and Groq have declined to comment on the ongoing probe, legal experts suggest that the Department of Justice could impose fines if violations are discovered. However, officials are unlikely to seek the total annulment of the transaction.
