Google says EU ‘on the wrong track’ with Android AI rules

The European Commission issued two binding decisions on July 16 requiring Google Alphabet Inc. ↗ 1.53% to give competing AI assistants the same access to Android that its own Gemini service enjoys, while also mandating that the company share anonymized search data with rival search engines and AI chatbots.

Android Must Welcome Rival AI Agents

Under the first decision, Google must open 11 Android features to third-party AI services, allowing users to activate rival assistants via voice commands — similar to "Hey Google" — and to delegate tasks such as booking a taxi, receiving suggested replies in messaging apps, or querying information about recently visited places. Competing services will also gain access to on-device AI models, background task execution, and screen context on par with Gemini.digital-markets-act.europa+2

Most changes must be implemented with Android 18 by August 1, 2027, while concurrent wake-word support — letting users trigger different assistants with different phrases — carries a later deadline of August 2028. Google must publish draft eligibility terms for sensitive capabilities by February 2027 and begin accepting applications from rival developers by May 2027.techi

Search Data Sharing Starts January 2027

The second decision requires Google to share the same categories of anonymized data it uses to improve its own search services with eligible third-party search engines and AI chatbots offering search functionality, including companies like OpenAI. The data-sharing regime takes effect in January 2027 and includes a multi-layered anonymization framework developed with privacy experts, a pricing formula, and a process allowing Google to vet applicants for cybersecurity risks before granting access.dig+3

The Commission said the measures aim to "rebalance the playing field" given that Google controls search data at a scale no competitor can match.digital-markets-act.europa+1

Google Pushes Back

Google's Android president Sameer Samat said in a post on X on Friday that the European Commission "is on the wrong track" with its rules, according to CNN. Google has argued that the mandated changes could endanger user privacy and security, and that users can already switch assistants on their own devices. The decisions are legally binding but do not constitute a finding of non-compliance or impose fines — though the Commission retains the power to levy penalties of up to 10 percent of Google's global annual turnover if the company fails to comply.thenextweb+3