EU Demands Apple and Google Open Mobile OS to AI Rivals

Google and Apple are facing mounting pressure from the European Commission as regulators move to curb the tech giants' dominance in the artificial intelligence market. By leveraging control over billions of active smartphones, the two companies have integrated their own AI assistants—Gemini and Siri—deep into their operating systems. The European Union is now demanding that these platforms open up to third-party AI agents, citing the Digital Markets Act as the legal framework to ensure a more competitive landscape for virtual assistants.

Regulatory Mandates for Android and Search

The European Commission is pushing for a more diverse ecosystem on mobile devices, requiring Google to grant third-party AI agents broader access to Android by July 2027. Under these new rules, EU users should be able to utilize external AI agents to operate apps and respond to voice commands with the same level of integration currently enjoyed by Gemini. Furthermore, the mandate requires Google to share search data with other search engines and AI chatbots starting in January, aiming to provide competitors with the ability to offer experiences comparable to Google Search.
Google has pushed back against these requirements, arguing that they pose significant security and privacy risks. Kent Walker, president of global affairs at Google and Alphabet, stated that granting external apps sensitive device permissions could endanger national security and compromise business trade secrets. Sameer Samat, Google’s Android president, added that the commission is on the wrong track, noting that Android users already have the ability to switch their default AI assistant through the device settings.

Privacy Concerns and Market Impact

Apple has similarly resisted the EU’s requirements, warning that the mandates would force the company to provide virtual assistants with direct access to users' private data. In June, Apple announced it would not launch its new Siri AI assistant on iPhones and iPads within the EU due to the Digital Markets Act. While the company stated it has proposed alternative solutions that were rejected by the EU, it continues to engage with regulators to find a path forward.
The debate has sparked broader questions regarding the safety of AI integration. Experts warn that without robust protections, allowing third-party apps deep access to operating systems could enable them to siphon user information or perform unauthorized actions. Calli Schroeder, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy and Information Center, noted that while tech companies often cite privacy as a primary concern, their arguments should be viewed with skepticism. As regulators and tech giants clash, the outcome of these mandates could fundamentally alter how consumers interact with their devices, potentially allowing services like ChatGPT to bypass traditional app interfaces entirely.