Android is facing one of its biggest changes in Europe since its launch. Brussels has focused on the privileged integration of Gemini , Google's AI assistant, and is preparing a set of requirements to ensure the operating system no longer functions as a closed shop and allows for rivals like ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot.
The European Commission believes that, as currently structured, Gemini enjoys a fast track within Android, putting other AI assistants at a clear disadvantage. The message is clear: if Google wants to continue operating in the European market as it has been, it will have to truly open the system to other artificial intelligence technologies.
What problem does Europe see with Google's AI within Android?
Brussels is scrutinizing the way Android favors Gemini by default . When a user turns on a phone with Google services, the company's assistant is already integrated at the system level: it can be activated by voice, read the screen context, interact with applications, and proactively perform tasks.
Other assistants, such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot, can only function as "second-tier" apps : they are installed from the store, but they don't have access to the same APIs, deep permissions, or automation features. They can't replace the default assistant as easily or take control of basic phone commands.
According to the Commission, this means that everyday actions like sending an email from the default email app, ordering food delivery, or sharing a photo with a contact are, in effect, always channeled through Gemini. Other AIs are relegated to a secondary role, even if the user prefers to use them.
The EU body understands that, in a market where Android is present in more than 60% of mobile phones in Europe and in billions of devices worldwide, this type of preferential treatment has a direct impact on competition and on users' ability to choose.
The Digital Markets Act enters the scene
This entire movement is based on the Digital Markets Act (DMA) , European legislation designed to regulate large technology platforms considered “gatekeepers of access.” Alphabet, Google’s parent company, is part of this group and is therefore obligated to comply with a series of additional requirements.
The DMA has already forced Google to introduce changes in Europe, such as search engine selection screens on Android and the ability to use alternative payment methods in the Play Store. Now, the next chapter focuses on artificial intelligence and how it is integrated into the mobile operating system.
Brussels suspects a repeat of the same pattern seen in previous cases: the use of privileged APIs and exclusive permissions for the in-house service, while competitors are forced to operate with greater technical limitations. In this instance, the service benefiting would be Gemini.
The formal procedure under the DMA was launched in January 2026 and, after months of analysis, the Commission has presented a draft of measures of almost thirty pages detailing what changes it expects Google to implement in order to consider that fair competition in AI within Android is being guaranteed.
What specific changes is Brussels demanding from Google?
The obligations that the European Commission is imposing on Google are significant and affect both the internal workings of Android and access to certain key data. The first major area revolves around mandatory interoperability.
The EU wants any rival AI provider to be able to integrate into Android with the same capabilities as Gemini . This includes enabling activation via custom voice commands (the so-called "wake words"), access to the screen context when the user opens the assistant, and the ability to communicate with other applications and perform tasks on demand.
In practice, this would mean that ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or any other user-approved AI could act as the device's default assistant : answering queries without additional steps, handling notifications, opening apps, writing messages, or managing email just like Gemini does today on Android phones.
The second point focuses on access to device resources. Brussels proposes that Google must provide free and effective access to sensitive APIs and hardware needed to run local or hybrid models, so that third-party assistants can offer comparable performance without being stuck in a "lite" mode.
Finally, the Commission also points to the opening of certain search data . Google would be required to share anonymized Google Search datasets, including queries, clicks, views, and result hierarchies, with rival search engines and other AI services so they can train and improve their own models.
Google's arguments: privacy, security, and costs
As expected, Google has not welcomed these proposals enthusiastically. The company argues that Android already functions as an open ecosystem , where device manufacturers can customize the AI services they offer and where third-party developers can create their own assistants.
Company spokespeople have described Brussels' intervention as "unjustified interference" and warned that forcing access to sensitive hardware and certain system permissions could increase development costs and introduce additional risks to user privacy and security.
Google's main concern is that allowing more actors to access deep parts of the system increases the attack surface and makes it more difficult to ensure that personal data does not end up in the hands of services that do not meet the same protection standards.
The company also points out that it is already sharing search data with third parties under the DMA framework and fears that further extending this sharing could expose sensitive information about searches related to health, finances or private life, even if they are anonymized.
Brussels, for its part, responds that its priority is to ensure a level playing field and that security and data protection obligations will remain strict for all participants. In other words, it considers the technical risks manageable and not justifiable as a reason to give Gemini preferential treatment.
Time limits, fines and territorial scope of the measures
The proposals presented by the European Commission are not final, but they outline the path Brussels expects Google to follow . A public consultation has been opened in which both the company itself and other stakeholders, from developers to consumer organizations, can participate.
The EU timetable includes several key dates: third parties have until early or mid-May to submit their comments on the Android and AI measures. After that period, the Commission will review the contributions and issue a binding decision.
The published documents outline timeframes that place the final decision around July 2026. From that point on, Google would be obligated to implement the approved changes within the European Union, with a reasonable timeframe to implement the technical modifications without compromising the system's stability.
If the company fails to comply, the Digital Markets Act stipulates penalties of up to 10% of the group's annual global revenue , a figure that, in Alphabet's case, would amount to several billion euros. It is a level of financial pressure that the Commission does not hesitate to emphasize in its communications.
It is worth emphasizing that, at least initially, these changes would only apply in the European Union . Other markets may closely observe the outcome, but the legal obligation affects users and devices located in Europe, although this does not preclude the possibility that the precedent could ultimately influence subsequent regulations in other regions.
What will this mean for Android users in Spain and Europe?
For those who use Android in Spain or any other EU country, the measures proposed by Brussels point to one clear consequence: regaining choice about which artificial intelligence manages the day-to-day operation of the phone.
If the requirements are met, it's likely that, during the initial setup process or in subsequent settings, an AI assistant selection screen will appear, similar to the existing browser and search engine selection screens. This list could include, in addition to Gemini, options like ChatGPT, Claude, or other European alternatives.
The chosen assistant could be activated by voice, integrated into the inbox, read notifications , or suggest actions based on what appears on the screen, under the same conditions as Gemini does today. The idea is to avoid any "tricks" or hidden steps that might discourage the user from switching.
This type of openness could also make it easier for manufacturers with a strong presence in Europe —such as Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, or smaller manufacturers—to explore integrations with other AI providers, without relying solely on Google's solutions for the smart features of their mobile phones.
In everyday use, for the average user, the effect would translate into a clearer feeling that the phone belongs to them and not so much to the platform: choosing which "brain" manages alarms, emails or reminders would no longer be conditioned by what comes pre-installed from the factory.
Opportunity for ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and European AI
From the competitors' perspective, Brussels' move opens a door that was previously only partially closed. If the technical conditions are leveled, assistants like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude could compete on Android to become the preferred choice for European users without first having to contend with system limitations.
For OpenAI, Microsoft, and other major players, this means direct access to a massive mobile user base without having to settle for their products being used only via apps, browsers, or partial integrations. The possibility of becoming the default assistant completely changes the game.
The measure could also benefit European AI startups that have faced significant technical barriers until now. Having access to clear APIs, hardware, and certain anonymized search data would allow regional projects to develop competitive services without starting at such a disadvantage.
However, all this potential will depend on developers being able to take advantage of the margin opened up by the DMA , adapting their products to the new Android APIs, guaranteeing high levels of security and respecting the European data protection framework, one of the most demanding in the world.
Looking at the ecosystem, it is most likely that in the coming years we will experience a period of intense experimentation : manufacturers testing different combinations of assistants, users changing AI according to their needs, and providers refining their models with the new data available.
Everything suggests that, if Brussels holds firm and Google ultimately implements the changes, Android will cease to be almost exclusively Gemini territory and will become a much more diverse space in terms of artificial intelligence. And, at least on paper, the winners will be European users, who will be able to choose more freely which assistant they want to carry in their pocket.
