EU Tells Google To Open Up AI On Android; Google Says That's 'Unwarranted Intervention'

Source: Slashdot

Background

In January, the European Commission launched an initial investigation—known as a specification proceeding—into how Google has implemented AI in the Android operating system. The EU’s findings indicate that Android needs to be more open, a conclusion that aligns with expectations. Google, however, characterises the move as “unwarranted intervention”【https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/04/europe-could-force-google-to-open-android-to-other-ai-assistants/】.

The investigation is rooted in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which designates seven dominant technology companies as “gatekeepers” subject to stricter regulation to ensure fair competition. Google has repeatedly opposed DMA‑related regulations, but the Commission is unlikely to retreat from its enforcement.

EU’s Concerns

The primary issue is the built‑in advantage that Google’s Gemini AI enjoys on Android devices. When a Google‑powered Android phone is turned on, Gemini is pre‑installed and receives special system‑level treatment. The Commission argues that many Android experiences work only with Gemini, limiting the functionality available to third‑party AI services.

Commission Vice‑President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen stated:

“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.”【https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_887】

Google’s Response

Google argues that the proposed changes would undermine the autonomy of device makers to customise AI services. Senior competition counsel Claire Kelly said:

“This unwarranted intervention 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.”

Google’s objection centres on preserving the ability of manufacturers (including Google itself) to decide which AI services run on their devices. The issue is not the ability to install alternatives such as ChatGPT or Grok, but the fact that these alternatives lack the same data access and system‑level features that Gemini enjoys.

Proposed EU Requirements

To level the playing field, the EU is considering several measures that would grant third‑party AI assistants deeper integration with Android:

• Allow alternative AI tools to be launched system‑wide via hot words, gestures, or button presses.
• Permit third‑party assistants to access screen context when invoked by users.
• Grant non‑Gemini AI tools access to local device data (with user permission) for proactive suggestions, summaries, and contextual help.
• Enable other AI services to control installed apps and Android system features on the user’s behalf.
• Ensure third‑party developers can access necessary device hardware to run local AI models with strong performance, availability, and responsiveness.
• Require Google to create APIs that let external AI providers plug into Android more deeply.
• Oblige Google to provide technical assistance to those AI providers.
• Make the APIs and support available free of charge.