The European Commission has ordered Google to give rival AI assistants the same level of access to Android's system features and data that it grants its own Gemini assistant, under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Although the ruling forces Google to open up a platform it has long guarded, it also hands the company a lengthy grace period, allowing it to keep strengthening Gemini's position on Android before competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic gain similar access — making the outcome less damaging than it might first appear.

Google has until July 2027 to comply, giving it roughly a year to negotiate technical details with Brussels and could still challenge the decision in court. By contrast, Apple was told it must make its new Siri AI assistant compliant before it can even launch in the EU; the Commission rejected Apple's request for an 18-month phase-in period, and Apple has said Siri AI will not launch in Europe for now, with no public timeline given. Both companies argue that opening up their systems risks compromising user privacy and security, but Google's "ship first, negotiate later" approach has left it in a notably stronger position than Apple's more cautious stance.