The European Commission ordered Google to grant rival AI assistants the same access to Android hardware and software as its own Gemini assistant [1].
This mandate targets Google's control over the mobile ecosystem to ensure that competing AI services can function with the same efficiency and depth as Google's native tools. Because Android powers about 60 percent [6] of smartphones in the European Union, the decision removes significant barriers for AI developers seeking to reach mobile users.
The Commission adopted the decision on July 16, 2026 [5]. Under the order, Google must provide competitors with access to the microphone, camera, screen, wake-word capabilities, and background-app control [2]. The European Commission said the order ensures other AI assistants have the same access to applications and operating system services [1].
Beyond hardware access, the order requires Google to share its internal search data with competitors [2]. This data sharing is scheduled to begin in January 2027 [3].
Implementation of the hardware and software changes will occur in stages. Users are expected to start benefiting from these Android changes in July 2027 [3]. Google is required to ship these updates in the next major release, Android 18 [4].
The European Union set a final deadline of Aug. 1, 2027, for full compliance [4]. The move is intended to break Google's monopoly on Android and search to foster a more competitive environment for artificial intelligence [1].
“The Commission ordered Google to open up the Android operating system to AI assistants other than its own Gemini.”
This ruling represents a significant escalation in the EU's effort to curb the dominance of big tech in the AI era. By forcing Google to open the 'hooks' of the Android OS—specifically the wake-word and background control—the EU is attempting to prevent a scenario where a single AI agent becomes the default gateway for all mobile interactions. The requirement to share internal search data further aims to level the playing field for smaller AI companies that lack the massive datasets Google has accumulated over decades.
