EU Gives Google Six Months to Open Android AI Features to Competitors
Brussels, Tuesday, 27 January 2026.
The European Commission launched formal proceedings requiring Google to make its Android operating system’s AI features, including Gemini chatbot capabilities, accessible to rival developers within six months. This marks a significant escalation in EU efforts to break Big Tech’s stranglehold on digital markets, potentially opening doors for European AI startups to compete directly with Google’s services on Android devices.
Dual-Track Regulatory Approach Targets Platform Dominance
The European Commission announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, two separate specification proceedings under the Digital Markets Act targeting Google’s compliance obligations [1]. The first proceeding focuses on Google’s obligation under Article 6(7) of the DMA to provide third-party developers with free and effective interoperability with hardware and software features controlled by Google’s Android operating system, specifically targeting features used by Google’s own AI services such as Gemini [1]. The second proceeding addresses Google’s obligation under Article 6(11) to grant third-party providers of online search engines access to anonymized ranking, query, click and view data held by Google Search on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms [1]. These proceedings will conclude within six months, with the Commission planning to communicate preliminary findings to Google within three months [5].
AI Market Competition at the Core
The Commission’s focus on AI interoperability reflects the rapidly evolving competitive landscape in artificial intelligence services. Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera stated that the proceedings on AI tools were opened so that companies can “maximise the potential and the benefits of this profound technological shift by making sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favour of the largest few” [5]. The Commission specifically intends to specify how Google should grant third-party AI service providers equally effective access to the same features available to Google’s own services, aiming to ensure that third-party providers have an equal opportunity to innovate and compete in the AI landscape on smart mobile devices [5]. The proceedings also examine the eligibility of AI chatbot providers to access Google’s search data, along with the scope of data, anonymization methods, and conditions of access [1][5].
Google’s Response and Industry Concerns
Google’s Senior Competition Counsel Clare Kelly acknowledged that the company is already taking steps to meet DMA requirements, stating that “Android is open by design, and we’re already licensing Search data to competitors under the DMA” [3]. However, Kelly expressed concerns about additional regulatory measures, warning that rules “often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation” [3][5]. The company’s response highlights the tension between regulatory compliance and maintaining competitive advantages in the AI market, as Google faces pressure to open its proprietary systems while protecting what it views as legitimate business interests.
Broader Implications for European Digital Sovereignty
These proceedings represent part of the EU’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on US-dominated digital platforms and foster European digital sovereignty. The Commission’s regulatory actions follow earlier specification proceedings opened against Apple in September 2024, targeting iOS interoperability provisions for mobile app developers and connected devices [5]. The DMA, designed to prevent dominant platforms from unfairly favoring their own services, restricting data use, or blocking competitors, reflects the EU’s determination to create fairer conditions for European competitors [3]. As the Commission prepares for its planned DMA review due by May 2026, these Google proceedings signal an intensification of regulatory scrutiny that could reshape how Big Tech operates in European markets [5].