The European Union (EU) has introduced new rules that will force Google to give rival AI assistants and search engines better access to Android devices and Google Search. The decision is part of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law created to reduce the power of large technology companies and encourage fair competition.
The European Commission officially approved two final decisions on July 16. One decision focuses on Android and AI assistants, while the second focuses on Google Search. These rules will require Google to make major changes over the next two years.
Under the new timeline, Google must begin sharing certain Google Search data with rival search engines from January 2027. It must also complete changes to Android that allow competing AI assistants deeper access to the operating system by July 2027.
The EU believes these changes will give users more freedom to choose the AI assistant and search service they want instead of relying mainly on Google’s own products.
Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, is currently built deeply into Android. It can access many phone features, making it more useful than many competing AI assistants. According to the European Commission, this gives Google an unfair advantage because other AI companies cannot access the same Android tools.
The new rules require Google to provide rival AI assistants with access to important Android features under conditions similar to those offered to Gemini. This includes access to several hardware and software functions that help AI assistants work more smoothly on Android devices.
If these changes are fully implemented, users in Europe may eventually be able to set AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and other similar services as their primary assistant with deeper system integration. These assistants could respond to voice commands, interact with more apps, control additional phone functions, and provide a much better overall experience.
The European Commission also made it clear that users should decide which AI assistant can access their personal data and device features. The EU believes this choice should belong to users instead of Google deciding through Gemini alone.
The second major decision focuses on Google Search. Under the Digital Markets Act, Google must share certain anonymous search information with competing search engines. This data will not include personal identities but can include information such as search queries, rankings, clicks, and page views.
The EU says this information can help smaller search companies improve their search results and create better alternatives to Google Search. The goal is to increase competition and give users more choices in the search market.
Interestingly, the new rules may also benefit AI chatbots that work like search engines. If an AI chatbot provides search-style answers to users, it could also qualify for access to this shared search data. This could help AI companies improve the quality of their AI-powered search services.
The European Commission says these changes are designed to create a healthier digital market where innovation is not limited to a few large companies. By allowing competitors to access important tools and information, the EU hopes more companies will be able to build advanced AI assistants and search engines.
These decisions are based on the Digital Markets Act, which targets major technology companies that act as “gatekeepers.” Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has been officially designated as one of these gatekeepers because it controls several popular online services.
The services covered under these rules include Android, Google Search, Google Play Store, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Shopping, Google Chrome, and Google’s online advertising platform.
Unlike traditional antitrust cases that mainly result in financial penalties, the Digital Markets Act focuses on changing how large technology companies operate. The European Commission started these compliance discussions with Google in January 2026 to explain exactly how the company must follow the law.
If Google fails to comply with these new requirements, it could face very large financial penalties. Under the Digital Markets Act, the European Commission can fine Alphabet up to 10 percent of its worldwide annual revenue. If the company repeatedly breaks the rules, even higher penalties could be imposed.
The Android decision could have a major impact on Google’s Gemini AI strategy. Gemini is becoming one of Google’s biggest products and is closely connected with Android smartphones. The EU believes AI assistants are quickly becoming one of the main ways people interact with their devices, making equal access to Android features very important.
If competing AI assistants receive the same level of system access, companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, and others could compete much more effectively with Gemini on Android devices across Europe.
Google, however, has strongly criticized the European Commission’s decisions.
Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs, said the new rules could weaken important privacy and security protections that Android users currently enjoy. According to Google, allowing deeper third-party access to Android features and Google Search data could increase security risks and potentially expose sensitive user information.
Google says it had proposed alternative solutions that would balance competition with user safety, but believes the European Commission did not fully consider the possible risks.
Despite Google’s concerns, the European Commission says privacy and security protections will remain an important part of the new system.
Before rival AI assistants receive deeper access to Android features, Google will still be allowed to perform security and privacy checks. This means AI services must meet certain cybersecurity requirements before gaining additional access to users’ devices.
Similarly, the search data shared with competitors will remain anonymous, and strict rules will control how that information can be used. The EU says personal user privacy will continue to be protected throughout the process.
Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s Executive Vice President responsible for technology, security, and democracy, said these measures are intended to encourage innovation, increase competition, and give European users more choices. She believes the new rules could help create stronger alternatives to both Google Search and Gemini in the coming years.
The decisions could also influence how the European Union handles other major technology companies in the future. Companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and others may face similar interoperability requirements if their products become dominant in key digital markets.
Apple has already delayed some AI features in Europe, saying that similar interoperability requirements could affect user privacy and security. Google, however, is continuing to offer Gemini in Europe while working to meet the EU’s new legal requirements.
For users, these changes will not happen immediately. Google has until January 2027 to begin sharing search data with competitors, while Android AI interoperability changes must be completed by July 2027.
If everything goes according to the EU’s plan, Android users in Europe will eventually have more freedom to choose their preferred AI assistant with deep system integration. At the same time, rival search engines and AI-powered search services will gain better access to the information they need to compete with Google Search, creating a more competitive and innovative digital market for everyone.
