September 10, 2026 | United States

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Nvidia’s massive licensing agreement with artificial-intelligence chip startup Groq, as regulators examine whether the deal was structured in a way that avoided a more extensive antitrust review.

The investigation centers on an agreement valued at roughly $17 billion, according to a New York Times report cited by Reuters on Thursday.

A Major Deal in the AI Chip Industry

Nvidia announced the agreement with Groq in December 2025.

Under the arrangement, Nvidia obtained a non-exclusive license to Groq’s chip technology. Several senior Groq executives also joined Nvidia, including Groq founder Jonathan Ross.

The structure attracted regulatory attention shortly after it was announced. According to the report, the Justice Department sent Nvidia a formal request seeking additional information about the agreement.

Why Regulators Are Looking at the Deal

The central question is whether the transaction was designed in a way that allowed Nvidia to gain valuable technology and talent without completing a traditional acquisition that could have faced greater antitrust scrutiny.

Nvidia has become one of the most influential companies in the global artificial-intelligence boom because its processors are widely used to train and operate AI systems.

That position has also brought increasing regulatory attention to the company and its business practices.

Nvidia Responds

Nvidia defended the agreement.

A company spokesperson told Reuters that the deal demonstrated how the American innovation system can allow companies to work together and develop new technologies.

The Justice Department and Groq had not provided comments to Reuters at the time of publication.

The investigation does not mean Nvidia has been found to have violated antitrust law. Regulators are examining the transaction, and the outcome remains uncertain.

Source: Reuters — September 10, 2026.