The European Commission announced Thursday that Google must extend to rival AI assistants the same system features and data access it currently reserves for its own Gemini AI on Android devices. The order, grounded in the Digital Markets Act (DMA), designates Google as a "gatekeeper" and obligates the company to make its operating system interoperable with third‑party assistants by July 2027.
Google’s Gemini, already integrated into Android and pre‑installed on many smartphones, will continue to operate while the company works out technical details with regulators. The year‑long runway gives Google ample time to further embed Gemini across its ecosystem before competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic can achieve comparable integration.
Apple, by contrast, received a far tighter deadline for its newly unveiled Siri AI. The company argued that opening iOS to third‑party assistants would create "unacceptable" privacy and security risks and asked the Commission for an 18‑month transition period. Brussels rejected the request, leaving Apple without a public timetable for a European launch.
The divergent outcomes underscore how the two firms approached the DMA. Google has long built its AI strategy around Gemini, making compliance a secondary concern. Apple introduced Siri AI only recently and chose to withhold it from the EU, positioning the delay as a regulatory issue in its public communications.
Both companies maintain that the DMA’s interoperability demands threaten user safety and product integrity. Yet they remain locked in a legal battle that could reshape the AI assistant market. Google could still challenge the decision in court, though it has not indicated whether it will do so. Apple has not commented on the Commission’s ruling.
Industry observers note that the decision gives Google a strategic advantage. By keeping Gemini on the market while negotiating compliance, Google can continue to leverage its dominant position in Android. Apple’s uncertainty over a European rollout may hamper its ability to compete for market share in the region.
Regulators in Brussels appear intent on enforcing the DMA uniformly, regardless of a company’s market share or product maturity. The Commission’s stance signals that dominant platforms will face strict obligations to level the playing field for newer entrants, even if those entrants are still refining their offerings.
As the deadline approaches, both Google and Apple will need to balance regulatory compliance with the technical challenges of opening their ecosystems to external AI services. The outcome will likely influence how other tech giants design and deploy AI assistants in the years ahead.
Cet article a été rédigé avec l'assistance de l'IA.
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