The European Commission ordered Google to grant competing AI assistants full access to Android hardware and system functions currently exclusive to Gemini. Google must provide rival AI services with microphone, camera, and screen data access, wake-word activation capabilities, and the ability to control other apps through automated taps and typing commands.
The mandate applies to Android 18 and takes effect by August 1, 2027. This ruling stems from the EU's Digital Markets Act, which classifies Google as a gatekeeper under competition law. The Commission found that Google's exclusive hardware access gave Gemini unfair advantages over competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and Microsoft's Copilot.
The decision reflects the EU's broader effort to prevent dominant platforms from using closed ecosystems to entrench market power. By forcing hardware parity, regulators aim to level competitive ground for AI assistants competing on Android devices, which represent over 70 percent of global smartphone usage.
Google must define technical specifications for how third-party AI assistants access Android features. The company cannot impose restrictions that disadvantage competitors or create onerous documentation requirements. Commission officials stated the order protects innovation and consumer choice in AI markets.
This marks an escalation in EU enforcement against Google. The company faces billions in fines under the Digital Markets Act and must comply with orders on search services, advertising tools, and data access. The Android ruling represents one of the most prescriptive interventions yet, requiring Google to cede control over the operating system's core functionalities.
Industry observers note Google could challenge the decision in EU courts, though successful appeals against Digital Markets Act orders remain rare. Compliance will likely reshape how AI assistants function on mobile devices across Europe and potentially influence policies elsewhere.