A huge spat is starting between EU watchdogs and Google over AI in the Android operating system.
In January, the European Commission opened an initial investigation, a specification proceeding, into how Google has wired AI into the Android operating system. The results are in, and the EU says Android needs to be more open.
The commission could force Android AI changes this summer under the Digital Markets Act. For those who came in late, the DMA is the EU’s wide-ranging law that brands seven dominant tech outfits as gatekeepers and imposes extra rules to keep competition fair. Google has moaned about DMA obligations for years, but the law has been in force for some time now, and Brussels is not blinking.
The immediate gripe is the built-in advantage for Gemini on Android. When you switch on a Google-powered Android phone, Gemini is already there and gets privileged system-level treatment.
The commission is targeting the limited number of comparable features available to third-party AI services. It believes too many Android experiences only work with Gemini and that a gatekeeper cannot keep it that way.
Commission VP for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen: “As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, it is clear that interoperability is key to unlocking the full potential of these technologies. These measures will open up Android devices to a wider range of AI services, so that users will have the freedom to choose the AI services that best meet their needs and values, without sacrificing functionality.”
Google says this amounts to “unwarranted intervention,” but Brussels can point to a decent track record on forcing openness so far. Since the DMA took effect, Google has had to roll out search choice screens on Android, allow alternative payment methods in the Play Store and limit data sharing across services.
Now the EU wants Android to be less hostile to third-party AI services. Google’s pushback leans on preserving autonomy for device makers, including Google, to customise AI services.
Google senior competition counsel Claire Kelly: “This would strip away that autonomy, mandate access to sensitive hardware and device permissions; unnecessarily driving up costs while undermining critical privacy and security protections for European users.”
The problem is not that you cannot install ChatGPT or Grok. The problem is that these chatbots do not get the same access to data and features that Gemini enjoys by default.
To fix that imbalance, the EU is weighing requirements that would give third-party AI assistants deeper hooks into Android, closer to Gemini’s current level. That includes letting alternative assistants launch system-wide via hot words, gestures, or button presses, and letting them read the screen context when users call them up.
Brussels is considering allowing non-Gemini tools to access local device data with user permission, so they can offer proactive suggestions, summaries and contextual help. It wants other AI services to control installed apps and Android system features on the user’s behalf, with the right consent prompts in place.
The commission is looking to ensure third-party developers can access the necessary device hardware to run local AI models with strong performance, availability, and responsiveness. It is considering forcing Google to build APIs that let outside AI providers plug in more deeply, provide technical assistance and offer that API access and support free of charge.
