European Commission seeks wider Android AI access under DMA

TL;DR:

• The European Commission said Android should give third-party AI services equal access to key phone and tablet features under the EU Digital Markets Act.
• The Commission said Alphabet has kept some AI-related Android features tied to its own Gemini service.
• The proposal covers wake-word access, access to device functions, and user choice for default AI assistants, and it is open for public consultation.

The European Commission said in April 2026 that Android should be more open to third-party AI services under the European Union's Digital Markets Act. The Commission said Alphabet, Google's parent company, has not provided equal access to some AI-related features and has kept them linked to Gemini on Android phones and tablets.

The Commission's discussion identifies three areas: the ability for users to invoke AI-powered services with wake words, the ability for third-party AI services to access certain device functions, and user choice over default AI assistants. Android is designated as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act, which requires equal access to key platform features for third-party companies, and the Commission has opened a public consultation on the proposed changes.

This case fits into the EU's broader enforcement of the Digital Markets Act against large platform operators. For the mobile device ecosystem, the issue centers on whether Android gives competing AI services the same system-level access as Gemini on phones and tablets sold in the European Union.

Related Questions

Will the EU require Android to support third-party AI assistants more fully?

Yes. The European Commission said Android should provide third-party AI services with equal access to key phone and tablet features under the Digital Markets Act.

What Android AI features are part of the EU review?

The review covers wake-word activation, access to certain device functions, and user choice for default AI assistants.