The European Commission has mandated that Alphabet's Google provide OpenAI and other AI developers, as well as search engine competitors, with greater access to its services under the Digital Markets Act. According to reports from Reuters, this decision came six months after the regulator opened specification proceedings to assist the world's most popular internet search engine in complying with the Digital Markets Act. The primary objective of these EU-mandated changes is to curb Big Tech's market dominance and ensure transparency and fair competition in the AI and search sectors. Google has reiterated its criticism of the EU-mandated changes, with the company's lawyer Kent Walker stating that these decisions risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans. As Walker noted in an email, "We have repeatedly offered solutions to safeguard users while satisfying the DMA's goals, but these rulings discount extensive evidence of user harm."
The Commission has mandated that Google open up 11 features on its Android operating system to AI rivals to access key functionalities and better compete with Google's Gemini AI service. Starting in July 2027, the next iteration of Android will introduce enhanced support for third-party AI assistants, enabling users to easily activate rival assistants through voice commands similar to the 'hey Google' command to book a taxi or search for information on places. These measures will also ensure that users' privacy and device security are protected, with Google only offering the 11 features to rivals who fulfill security and privacy criteria. The updated Android features aim to improve access to key functionalities, so that competitors can compete with Google's Gemini AI service fairly. The Commission found that AI agents not made by Google were unable to function on Android phones at the same level as Google's Gemini, making these changes necessary to level the playing field. According to Reuters, Google is preparing to comply with the EU's interoperability requirements while continuing to integrate Gemini AI across Android devices, though the company's Android Ecosystem president Sameer Samat argues the new requirements would add unnecessary technical complexity.
The EU decision requires Google to share data that it collects to optimise its own search services with OpenAI and other AI chatbots with search functionalities, subject to anonymisation. Before sharing this data, Google must analyze security related and data protection risks to ensure proper safeguards are in place. The EU measure, which will be implemented from January 2027, includes a formula to calculate the price of the shared data. This provision aims to enable emerging alternatives to Google Search and Google's AI services such as Gemini, allowing users in the EU to enjoy greater choice of services. The Commission stated the move is meant to level the playing field since Google controls a vast trove of user data that no competitor can match. According to Reuters, the Digital Markets Act could make it easier for third-party AI assistants to interact with Android devices, creating opportunities for greater competition and innovation.
Unlike Google, Apple has adopted a more cautious response to the European Union's AI rules. At the Worldwide Developers Conference 2026, the company announced that Siri AI would not launch in the European Union alongside iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, citing the European Commission's interpretation of the Digital Markets Act. According to Apple, Siri AI is designed around on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, allowing AI features to work while keeping user data private. The company said EU regulators rejected its proposals for introducing Siri AI while safely supporting third-party virtual assistants. Apple argued that, under the Commission's interpretation of the Digital Markets Act, it would have to allow rival assistants direct access to users' personal data and greater control over installed applications without what it described as the necessary privacy and security safeguards. Apple said it would continue working to bring Siri AI to European users but did not provide a timeline for its launch, adding that it could not compromise the privacy and security standards underpinning its AI system. Following WWDC 2026, Apple updated its App Store Review Guidelines to place greater emphasis on apps that deliver meaningful functionality rather than flooding the store with repetitive or low-value experiences, aiming to prevent large numbers of nearly identical AI-generated apps from overwhelming the marketplace.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stated that thanks to these measures, the Commission hopes to see emerging alternatives to Google Search and Google's AI services such as Gemini, allowing users in the EU to enjoy greater choice of services. The rules are specifically designed to curb Big Tech's market dominance and ensure fair competition in the AI and search sectors. According to Reuters, the Digital Markets Act will cover nearly 427 million iPhones and Android devices across the European Union, giving the bloc significant influence over how global technology companies develop and deploy AI features. Google has repeatedly offered solutions to safeguard users while satisfying the DMA's goals, but these rulings have discounted extensive evidence of user harm according to the company's objections. The Commission emphasized that the measures contain robust safeguards to protect users' privacy and device security, ensuring that only qualified rivals who meet security criteria will have access to Google's services. Walker warned that the new rules could backfire by removing safeguards that protect user privacy, stating that "Europeans' private searches would be exposed to unfamiliar companies, without adequate anonymization of the data and without user knowledge or consent."
