The European Union has ordered Google to open two of its most valuable platforms to rival AI assistants and search engines, including competitors like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Claude. The decision could fundamentally reshape how users interact with AI search tools and weaken Google's control over Android devices and search data across Europe.

What Did the EU Actually Require Google to Do?

On Thursday, the European Commission handed down two separate rulings under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping antitrust regulation designed to rein in dominant tech platforms. The first ruling requires Google to give rival AI assistants the same system-level access and data that Gemini, Google's own AI tool, currently enjoys on Android devices. The second ruling mandates that Google share valuable search data with competing search engines and AI chatbots.

In practical terms, this means Android users could eventually choose Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI assistants as their primary system assistant, with the same deep integration into device features that Gemini currently has. Users would be able to interact with competing AI tools through voice commands, access device hardware, and integrate with apps in ways previously reserved for Google's own products.

Google has until January 2027 to begin sharing search data and July 2027 to implement the Android changes. If the company fails to comply, the European Commission could impose fines of up to 10 percent of Google's annual worldwide turnover, potentially tens of billions of dollars.

Why Does This Matter for AI Search Competition?

The ruling represents a significant opening for AI search startups and established competitors that have struggled to compete with Google's dominance. For years, Google has controlled both the Android operating system and the search engine that powers it, giving its own AI tools an insurmountable advantage. By forcing data sharing and interoperability, the EU is attempting to level the playing field for emerging AI search engines like Perplexity, which have gained traction by offering more conversational, source-cited answers compared to traditional search results.

The data-sharing requirement specifically echoes remedies ordered in the U.S. search antitrust case, where Google was instructed to share valuable search information with rivals. This suggests a coordinated international approach to limiting Google's AI search monopoly.

How to Prepare for These Changes if You Use Android in Europe

• Expect More AI Choices: By mid-2027, European Android users should be able to set competing AI assistants like Perplexity or Claude as their default system assistant, with comparable access to device features and voice commands.
• Monitor Privacy Settings: As more AI assistants gain access to Android system data, review your device privacy settings and understand which services have permission to access your location, contacts, and app data.
• Try Alternative Search Engines: Beginning in January 2027, alternative search engines and AI chatbots will have access to Google Search data, making them more competitive; consider testing these options to see which best matches your search preferences.

Google has pushed back against both requirements, arguing they pose unacceptable risks to user privacy and security. The company stated that the rulings "risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans." However, the EU said there will be limits on how search data can be used and that Google will be able to vet which services get deeper access to Android to ensure safety standards are maintained.

"With today's measures, we want to support innovation and diversity in the European Union, enabling fair competition in the markets of AI assistant for Android devices and search engines," said Henna Virkkunen, European Commission executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, European Commission

The ruling may also signal how Brussels will approach similar interoperability requirements for other tech giants. Apple, for instance, declined to release its Siri AI in Europe, explicitly blaming the DMA and arguing that its interoperability requirements compromise user safety.

For AI search startups like Perplexity, which has built its business on providing cited, conversational answers, the ruling opens a significant opportunity. Rather than competing solely on the open web, these services could eventually integrate directly into Android devices across Europe, giving them access to millions of users who might never have discovered them otherwise. The decision underscores a broader shift in how regulators view AI competition, treating AI assistants and search engines as functionally similar services that deserve comparable access to data and platform features.

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