The European Union has ordered Google to open up key parts of Android and Google Search to rival companies, in a move that could significantly weaken its grip on two of the most important platforms in tech. The decisions, issued under the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), require Google to give competing AI assistants and search engines comparable access to systems and data that Google currently reserves largely for itself, potentially reshaping the future of its Gemini AI assistant and giving rivals such as ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity room to compete more directly on Android devices.

Under the ruling, Google must let rival AI assistants access the same system features and data as Gemini, letting users rather than Google decide which tools can tap into device hardware, apps and voice commands. A separate measure compels Google to share data generated by Search with competing search engines and AI chatbots, echoing remedies imposed in a parallel US antitrust case. Google has until January 2027 to begin sharing search data and July 2027 to implement the Android changes, and faces fines of up to 10% of its global annual turnover if it fails to comply; the company has objected, saying the requirements threaten user privacy and security.