EU orders Google to open Android AI features to rivals

The European Commission has issued two binding decisions under the Digital Markets Act requiring Google to expand competition in AI assistants and online search. Google must give rival AI services access to 11 key Android features on terms equivalent to those available to its own services, including Gemini.

Users will be able to activate a preferred AI assistant by voice and use it to perform tasks across apps, such as sending messages, booking services, or retrieving contextual information. Alternative providers will gain access to device context, background execution, on-device models, system integration and automated actions, subject to user consent and security safeguards. Google must implement most measures in Android 18 and no later than 1 August 2027, while concurrent voice activation for multiple assistants must arrive with Android 19 by August 2028.

Google must also share anonymised search data with eligible third-party search engines, including AI chatbots with online search functions. The data may cover queries, rankings, clicks and views used to improve Google Search, but not search algorithms. Recipients cannot use the data to train general-purpose AI models or for advertising and consumer profiling.