The European Commission wants to crack open Google's AI fortress on Android. Under the Digital Markets Act, regulators have proposed measures that would force Google to give third-party AI services like ChatGPT and Grok the same system-level access that Gemini enjoys. That means alternative AI tools could be invoked with hot words, read screen context, access local data for suggestions, and even control apps autonomously. Agents that autonomously write their own tools have demonstrated this capability in sandboxes, though system-level access is a much higher bar. Google isn't having it, following a trend where Google frequently faces EU pushback over its data practices.
EU to Google: Open Android AI to rivals; Google calls it overreach
The European Commission has completed its investigation into Google's AI implementation on Android under the Digital Markets Act, proposing measures to require Google to provide third-party AI services with the same system-level access as Gemini. Proposed changes include allowing third-party AI tools to be invoked via hot words, access screen context, access local data for suggestions, and autonomously control apps. Google opposes the measures as an "unwarranted intervention" that could compromise security and privacy.