The Commission has sent its preliminary findings to Google as part of the specification proceedings it started on 27 January 2026 under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These preliminary findings outline the draft measures Google should implement to ensure that third parties have effective access and interoperability with key capabilities of Android
The proposed measures aim to ensure that competing AI services can effectively interact with applications on users’ Android devices and execute tasks accordingly, such as sending an email using the user’s preferred email app, ordering food or sharing a photo with friends. Currently, Google largely reserves these capabilities for use by its own AI offerings on Android phones and tablets. For example, the measures would allow competing AI services to be easily activated by users, using a custom ‘wake word’, a phrase that the user can speak to activate an AI service.
The proposed measures will also enable competing providers of AI services to innovate and offer deeply integrated AI experiences to users on Android phones and tablets, along with Alphabet’s own AI services, such as Gemini. Opening up access to these capabilities will provide Android users across the EU with a wider choice of AI services.
To ensure that these proposed measures are effective, the Commission invites interested parties to comment on them through a public consultation.
Interested parties have until 13 May 2026 to submit their views on the draft measures. The non-confidential summary of the preliminary findings and envisaged measures is available on the consultation page.
“AI services are becoming more and more relevant for EU citizens’ daily interaction with their mobile devices. And it is critical to protect innovation by AI companies of all sizes. Today’s proposed measures will give more choice to Android users about the AI services they use and integrate in their phone, including from the vast range of AI services that compete with Google’s own AI. We now invite all interested parties to share their views during this consultation so that we can ensure our measures are effective and promote meaningful interoperability for alternative AI services providers.”, said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: “As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, it is clear that interoperability is key to unlocking the full potential of these technologies. These measures will open up Android devices to a wider range of AI services, so that users will have the freedom to choose the AI services that best meet their needs and values, without sacrificing functionality. The voice of the market matters, and we encourage feedback from all interested parties on today’s proposed measures.”
Next steps
The Commission will carefully assess the feedback provided by interested parties and by Google. The input received may trigger adjustments to the proposed measures. The final decision must be adopted within six months from the opening of the specification proceedings and will contain the final binding measures.
These proceedings are without prejudice to the powers of the Commission to adopt a decision finding non-compliance with any of the obligations laid down in the DMA by a gatekeeper.
Background
These preliminary findings are part of a set of specification proceedings opened on 27 January 2026. On 16 April 2026, the Commission issued preliminary findings and launched a public consultation in relation to specification proceedings on the sharing of search data with third parties, by Google Search.
The DMA aims to ensure contestable and fair markets in the digital sector. It regulates gatekeepers, which are large digital platforms that provide an important gateway between business users and consumers, whose position can grant them the power to create a bottleneck in the digital economy.
On 6 September 2023, the European Commission designated Alphabet Inc.’s Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Android operating system, Google Chrome, Google Shopping and its online advertising services as core platform services. Alphabet has had to fully comply with all applicable DMA obligations in respect of the designated services since 7 March 2024.
Above, photo by Kelly Sikkema on unsplash
