European Commission presses Google to give rival AI assistants equal Android access

The European Commission is pressing Google to give outside AI assistants deeper access to Android features that Gemini already uses. (ec.europa.eu) (bloomberg.com) The case sits inside the Digital Markets Act, the European Union law that sets conduct rules for designated “gatekeepers” such as Alphabet. On January 27, 2026, the Commission opened specification proceedings on Google’s duty to provide “free and effective interoperability” with Android hardware and software features. (ec.europa.eu) (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu) Those proceedings cover AI assistants on Android, not just ordinary apps. The Commission’s case register lists an Alphabet Android specification proceeding tied to Article 6(7) and labeled for AI. (digital-markets-act-cases.ec.europa.eu) Google’s own product shift sharpened the issue. In March 2025, Google said it would move more mobile users from Google Assistant to Gemini and later remove the classic Assistant from most mobile devices and app stores. (blog.google) Gemini is not a side app on Android anymore; Google has marketed it as part of the phone’s core experience. Google said Gemini can work through an overlay, understand spoken requests, and complete tasks across apps on Android devices. (blog.google 1) (blog.google 2) That is what Brussels is trying to regulate: if Gemini can reach system features for voice activation, defaults, and other deep integrations, rival assistants should be able to compete for the same access on equal terms. Bloomberg reported that officials are pushing Google to lift barriers for AI assistants including ChatGPT and Claude. (bloomberg.com) (ec.europa.eu) Google has argued that wider access raises security and privacy risks. Bloomberg reported the company warned that opening more Android hooks to competing assistants could compromise user protections. (bloomberg.com) The Commission has not yet said Google is in final breach on this Android assistant issue. What it has done is formalize a process to define what compliance should look like before any full enforcement step. (ec.europa.eu) (digital-markets-act-cases.ec.europa.eu) The same January action also opened a separate Google case over search data sharing, showing Brussels is using the Digital Markets Act to pry open both Android distribution and Google’s information advantages at the same time. (ec.europa.eu) (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) For Android users in Europe, the practical question is whether choosing an AI assistant will start to look more like choosing a browser or search engine. For Google, the answer will determine how much of Gemini’s Android advantage must be shared with competitors. (bloomberg.com) (ec.europa.eu)