Microsoft (MSFT) faces UK merger investigation over hiring of former Inflection employees

Microsoft Corp.’s investment in Inflection AI will be the subject of a detailed antitrust investigation in the U.K. after the watchdog said it needed to look more closely at the artificial intelligence company’s hiring of former employees.

The Competition and Markets Authority said on Tuesday it was launching a formal first phase investigation into the merger of the two companies, setting a deadline of September 11 to decide whether to move to a detailed investigation.