The European Commission has ordered Google to allow competitors to be able to offer voice commands on Android apps so that consumers can choose alternative AI assistants if they want to.
The European Commission said the way Android is set up at the moment, Google’s own AI assistant, Gemini, has a significant advantage because it has a broader access to the operating system that powers Android phones than third party apps.
“Today’s decision will ensure that users can activate their preferred AI assistant via voice commands, similar to the “Hey Google” command,” the European Commission said.
The order was made under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) which is designed to ensure fair competition.
The European Commission said other Artificial Intelligence (AI) services should be able to compete with Google’s own AI services, such as Gemini, “by having equal access to features on Google’s Android devices.”
In order to achieve that, the EU says Google must open up its Android operating system.
“Currently, on Android phones, competitors’ AI assistants only have restricted access to key functionalities of the Google Android operating system. Without this access, alternative AI assistants are not competing on an equal footing with Google’s own AI services that have full access.”
The EU estimates that Android controls 60 percent of the mobile phone market in the European Union.
That gives Google huge power.
But the European Commission wants Google to know that it is watching closely and is not afraid to step in if it believes the market is being skewed.
The EU says the change will allow consumers to choose which AI assistant they want to empower to “delegate tasks such as booking a taxi, receive suggestions for relevant replies in chat apps, or ask the AI assistant about a recently visited place.”
“Importantly, the measures incorporate robust safeguards to ensure that the privacy of users, device integrity and security are protected.”
Google has reacted angrily to the order claiming that other apps already have sufficient access.
“The reality is that AI assistants already safely access Android’s capabilities, with phone makers playing a key role in vetting them,” said Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs for Google and its parent company, Alphabet.
“This Android ruling threatens device security by granting external apps sensitive and powerful device permissions without these safeguards.”
The European Commission says Google has until July 2027 to comply.