EU Orders Google to Open Android to Rival AI Assistants by July 2027

The European Commission issued a binding order under the Digital Markets Act requiring Google to open Android to rival AI assistants and share search data with competitors, with a July 2027 deadline for compliance.

The order is one of the most significant regulatory actions taken against a major tech company under the DMA, which came into full force in 2024. It requires Google to allow users to choose alternative AI assistants on Android devices and to share search data with competing services.

Google has faced a series of regulatory setbacks in 2026. The company lost a final appeal against a 4.1 billion euro EU antitrust fine and has struggled with delays to its flagship Gemini 3.5 Pro model, which has missed its release target three times. Reports indicate the company may release a "Gemini 3.6 Flash" stopgap model to maintain market presence.

The DMA order is viewed as a direct challenge to Google's distribution dominance. By controlling Android, Google has historically been able to pre-install its own apps and services on billions of devices, giving it a significant advantage over competitors.

The U.S. government is also considering the creation of an independent AI watchdog, modeled after financial regulators, to oversee frontier model safety and capabilities. The proposal reflects growing concern among policymakers about the pace of AI development and the concentration of power among a small number of large technology companies.

Global startup funding hit a record $510 billion in the first half of 2026, with the majority absorbed by AI and defense-tech sectors.