EU orders Google to open Android and Search access to rivals

In short: The European Union has ordered Google to give competing AI assistants and search services more access to Android and some Google Search data.

What happened

The European Commission said Google must change how it runs Android phones in Europe so rival AI assistants can work more like Google’s own assistant, Gemini. Android is the software that runs many smartphones, like an operating system (the basic control center for your phone).

In practice, the EU wants “interoperability,” which means different services can work together instead of being blocked (like letting different brands of chargers fit the same port). The decision could let people choose assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity to handle deeper phone tasks, not just answer questions. That includes responding to voice commands, interacting with apps, and using more of the phone’s hardware, with the user deciding what the assistant can access.

A second EU decision targets Google Search. Regulators said Google must share certain data created by Search with competing search engines and AI chatbots. The EU noted that chatbots can act like search tools in some cases, since people use them to find information.

Google has pushed back. It said these requirements could create privacy and security risks and could harm its products. The EU said there will be limits on how Search data can be used, and Google will be able to check which services get deeper access to Android to help keep users safe.

Why it matters

If the rules take effect as planned, people in the EU may get more real choices for search and phone assistants. It could also make it easier for smaller companies to compete with Google on Android and in search, instead of Google’s options being the default.

Source: The Verge AI