The DOJ's early-stage antitrust probe into Nvidia's December 2025 non-exclusive licensing deal with Groq—valued at roughly $17–20 billion and structured as a technology transfer plus acqui-hire of key executives—drives the 91% market-implied odds against a fine by year-end. Regulators are examining whether the arrangement evaded Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger review for AI accelerator technology, yet the inquiry remains limited to a formal information request issued months ago, with no enforcement signals or complaints filed as of mid-October 2026. Antitrust fact-finding and potential settlements typically span well beyond the remaining weeks, while Nvidia has already integrated Groq's LPU technology into production. A sudden escalation on new evidence or heightened political focus on AI consolidation could still prompt action before the December 31 cutoff.