The European Union has ordered Google to give competing AI assistants broader access to Android features that are already available to its own Gemini service. According to the decision, rivals must be able to reach tools such as the microphone, camera, on-screen content and wake-word functions, widening how third-party assistants can operate on Android devices.
The move is tied to the EU's Digital Markets Act, which is designed to limit the power of large digital platforms and create more room for competition. The order reportedly covers 11 features in Android 18, with Google required to make those capabilities available to rivals by August 2027.
Alongside the Android changes, the European Commission is also requiring Google to share anonymized Search data under the same regulatory framework. That element could affect how competitors build and improve their own services, especially in areas where access to large-scale data helps train and refine AI-driven products.
The decision adds to growing pressure on major tech companies in Europe to open up core platforms and services. For Google, it marks another major regulatory test as AI assistants become more central to mobile devices and as EU officials push for equal access between dominant ecosystems and their competitors.
