If their tech is around as good as ChatGPT, I understand their apprehension. ChatGPT reaches the level being just good enough to be dangerous. And Google is already dealing with an abundance of regulatory scrutiny. An AI that can easily instruct you on doing criminal activity, or confidently spits out misinformation as fact was likely a can of worms they'd rather kick down the road.

People really do want to use this technology though, so their hand is being forced.