EU tells Google to open Android features to rival AI assistants

In short: The European Commission is telling Google how it may need to give rival AI assistants more access to key Android phone features.

What happened

EU regulators are taking action because they worry Google could use Android’s built-in advantages to favor Gemini and other Google AI services over competitors. Android is the operating system (the main software that runs the phone) on many smartphones.

This step is part of the Digital Markets Act, or DMA, which is the EU’s big law meant to keep powerful tech platforms from blocking competition. In January 2026, the European Commission opened a “specification proceeding,” which is a formal process to spell out the exact rules Google must follow to meet its “interoperability” duties. Interoperability means different services should be able to work together smoothly (like letting different brands of chargers fit the same port).

Regulators want competing AI services to interact effectively with Android apps and system features. That includes everyday tasks like sending an email through the user’s chosen email app, ordering food, or sharing photos. The concern is that Gemini may currently get better access to these capabilities than third-party assistants, giving Google an unfair advantage.

Google has pushed back. The company says the proposed measures could raise costs and could weaken privacy and security protections for users.

Why it matters

If the EU’s approach stands, Android users in Europe could get more real choice in which AI assistant they use, without losing important phone functions. More broadly, it aims to stop the phone’s owner, Google, from acting like a landlord who lets its own shop use the best doors and hallways while making competitors take the back stairs.

Source: NYTimes