Jonathan Kanter is using AI to take on Big Tech

After stepping down as the head of the DOJ's Antitrust Division in 2024, Jonathan Kanter has pivoted to the private sector to continue his fight against illegal monopolies using an unexpected tool: artificial intelligence. Alongside former acting Antitrust Division chief Doha Mekki, Kanter launched FluxCap, a startup composed of former DOJ staffers and Palantir engineers. The company's platform uses proprietary technology and large language models to help attorneys conduct legal research, spot logical flaws, and sift through massive piles of discovery materials to uncover anticompetitive behavior.

Antitrust litigation is notoriously resource-intensive. While government agencies and state attorneys general operate on tight budgets and limited headcounts, tech giants and massive corporations can deploy formidable legal teams with deep pockets. Kanter views FluxCap as a "force multiplier" that gives small legal teams the virtual capacity and manpower of dozens of lawyers working around the clock. Although Kanter stresses that technology cannot fully replace the need for government funding and increased headcount, he believes AI can serve as a great equalizer to help underdogs go toe-to-toe with powerful opponents.