Google Outmaneuvers Apple as EU Orders Android Opened to Rival AI Assistants

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The European Commission has ordered Google to give rival AI assistants the same level of access to Android that it grants its own Gemini — but crucially, the search giant has until July 2027 to comply. The ruling, handed down under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), highlights a growing regulatory divide between Google and Apple’s approaches to AI and competition law.

The European Commission ordered Google to open Android to rival AI assistants under the Digital Markets Act, granting the company a year-long grace period to comply. (Image: geralt / Pixabay)

A Yearlong Runway for Gemini

The European Commission — the EU’s executive arm and principal enforcer of the bloc’s competition rules — said Google must give third-party AI assistants the same system features and data access it provides to Gemini. The order stems from the Digital Markets Act, which requires designated “gatekeeper” platforms to offer competitors access comparable to what their own services enjoy.

While Google has long resisted opening its systems — arguing it risks user privacy and security — the year-long runway before compliance is due gives the company a significant advantage. Gemini is already deeply embedded in Android, often shipping as the default AI assistant on new devices. That head start means Google can continue expanding Gemini’s capabilities while rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic wait for access.

Google could also challenge the decision in court, though it has not publicly commented on whether it plans to do so.

Apple’s Contrasting Strategy

Google’s “ship first and negotiate later” approach stands in stark contrast to Apple’s. When Apple announced its Siri AI assistant last month, it made clear the feature would not launch in Europe because of the DMA’s requirements. Apple argued that granting third-party assistants comparable system access “would be irresponsible” and create unacceptable privacy risks.

The Commission rejected Apple’s request for 18 months to build a compliant version, leaving Siri AI with no clear timeline for an EU launch. Apple has since turned the delay into a public relations campaign, dedicating part of its WWDC 2026 keynote to the issue and publishing pointed blog posts blaming Brussels for the absence.

What This Means for the AI Assistant Race

The divergent outcomes reflect where each company stood when the DMA began shaping product decisions. Google has made Gemini a central pillar of its strategy for years, giving it strong incentive to stay in the market and figure out compliance after the fact. Apple, by contrast, unveiled its Siri AI only recently and chose to withhold it rather than redesign it on the Commission’s terms.

For now, Google has secured the very grace period Apple wanted for Siri AI — time to keep its AI assistant on the market while negotiating the technical details of compliance. Brussels denied Apple that same runway, and it remains unclear when — or if — Siri AI will reach European users.

The episode reveals a fundamental strategic split between two of the world’s largest tech companies, and suggests that in the game of AI regulation, playing ball with Brussels may be a smarter move than fighting it in the court of public opinion.

Dma on Know the Tech

Google Outmaneuvers Apple as EU Orders Android Opened to Rival AI Assistants

A Yearlong Runway for Gemini

Apple’s Contrasting Strategy

What This Means for the AI Assistant Race