EU tells Google to open Android

The European Commission told Google on April 27 that Android must give rival artificial intelligence assistants access to key features now reserved largely for Gemini. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) The draft measures say third-party AI services should be able to interact with apps on Android devices and carry out tasks such as sending an email, ordering food or sharing a photo. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) Brussels also said rival assistants should be easier for users to activate, including through a custom wake word, instead of leaving those deeper hooks to Google’s own software. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) The case sits under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, the law used to force large “gatekeeper” platforms to open important parts of their systems to competitors. The Commission opened these Android specification proceedings on January 27, 2026. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) (usnews.com) A specification proceeding is not yet a fine or a final infringement ruling. It is the Commission spelling out, in detail, what it thinks compliance should look like before issuing a binding decision. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) (usnews.com) The Commission gave outside parties until May 13, 2026 to comment on the proposed Android measures. Reuters reported the European Union expects to decide by the end of July whether Google’s approach complies with the law. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) (usnews.com) Google rejected the proposal. Clare Kelly, Google’s senior competition counsel, said the measures would “strip away” device makers’ autonomy and require access to sensitive hardware and permissions, raising privacy, security and cost concerns. (usnews.com) European officials framed the same plan as a choice issue. Teresa Ribera said the measures would give Android users more options for the AI services they use and integrate into their phones. (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu) (usnews.com) The Android case is running alongside a separate European Union push on Google Search data. Earlier in April, the Commission set out draft measures that would require Google to share ranking, query, click and view data with rival search engines and eligible AI chatbots on fair terms. (techxplore.com) (usnews.com) If Brussels turns the Android draft into a final order this summer, the fight over mobile competition will move from browsers and app stores to the layer that decides which AI assistant can act across the phone. (digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu) (bloomberg.com)