The landscape of AI assistants on mobile just shifted. On July 16, 2026, the European Commission ordered Google to open Android to competitors and to share part of its search data, under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). In practice, an employee will soon be able to trigger a rival AI assistant by voice, just as they do today with "Hey Google." Here is what this decision changes for an SME, and the timeline to remember.

In brief

• On July 16, 2026, the European Commission adopted two binding decisions requiring Google to open Android to rival AI assistants and share its search data (source: European Commission, DMA).
• Google must open 11 Android features currently reserved for Gemini: voice activation, cross-app task execution, and system-level integration (source: European Commission).
• Sharing of anonymised search data (queries, clicks, ranking) begins in 2026, with pricing finalised by January 2027; rivals such as OpenAI will get access.
• The Android changes will arrive with Android 18, expected by August 2027. The user, not Google, decides which assistant receives these accesses.
• For an SME, the effect is twofold: more choice of AI assistants on business phones, and stronger competition in online search, so potentially cheaper tools.

What the Commission decided, plainly

The Digital Markets Act is the European regulation that governs very large digital platforms, called gatekeepers. Its goal: to prevent a dominant player from locking up a market at the expense of competitors and users. Google has been a gatekeeper since 2023.

On July 16, 2026, the Commission adopted two sets of binding specification measures. The first targets AI assistant interoperability on Android. The second concerns search data sharing from Google Search. The stated goal is to rebalance a market where Google Search holds more than 90% of searches in Europe (source: European Commission).

The 11 Android features that open up

The decision requires Google to give competing assistants access to 11 Android features these tools depend on to be genuinely useful. Among them: voice activation (to respond to a voice command the way Gemini does), cross-app task execution, and system-level integration until now reserved for Gemini.

In practice, a user will be able to call a third-party assistant by voice, then ask it to draft an email, order a meal, or surface a flight number from their inbox during a call. The user stays in control: they decide which tools receive these accesses, not Google.

Search data sharing

The second part is arguably the most consequential for competition. Google will have to share anonymised search signals: queries, clicks, ranking and view data, the very ones it uses to refine its own results. The Commission notes that Google Search holds a volume of data no competitor can rebuild alone.

One important restriction frames this sharing: recipients may improve their search functions, but may not use the data to train general-purpose AI models. The anonymisation relies on a multi-layered method developed with privacy experts, aligned with joint guidance from the Commission and the European Data Protection Board.

Timeline: what happens, and when

Nothing changes overnight. The rollout is phased, which gives SMEs time to prepare.

What Google says, and why it is worth knowing

The decision was not welcomed by all. Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs, responded that these decisions "risk undermining vital privacy and security guardrails for millions of Europeans." His argument: opening Android permissions would bypass certain phone security safeguards.

For an SME leader, this debate is not trivial. It is a reminder of a simple rule: the more access an AI assistant has to your phone and apps, the more the question of security and privacy must be asked upfront. Widen the choice, yes, but keep an eye on the permissions granted.

What it concretely changes for your SME

Three effects deserve your attention.

1. More choice on business phones. Your teams will be able to install and trigger by voice an AI assistant other than Gemini, with the same ability to act. A specialised business assistant (legal, sales, support) could become the default on a company smartphone.

2. Stronger competition in search. By giving competitors access to data only Google held, the EU seeks to grow alternative search engines and tools. Over time, this can mean cheaper and more varied tools for SMEs.

3. A governance requirement. Multiplying assistants with system access also multiplies entry points to company data. A short internal usage policy (which assistants are allowed, on which devices, with which permissions) becomes a healthy reflex.

FAQ

What is the Digital Markets Act (DMA)?

The Digital Markets Act is a European Union regulation that governs very large digital platforms, called gatekeepers. It aims to guarantee open and fair digital markets by imposing obligations on these dominant players, of which Google is one.

When will I be able to use an AI assistant other than Gemini on Android?

The 11 Android features concerned will open with Android 18, which the Commission expects by August 2027. From that version, you will be able to trigger a rival assistant by voice, with capabilities equivalent to Gemini's.

Is my business data exposed by this sharing?

The sharing concerns anonymised search signals (queries, clicks, ranking), not your company data. The anonymisation relies on a multi-layered method validated with privacy experts. That said, an AI assistant installed on a business phone can access your apps: that is where your vigilance matters.

What should an SME do right now?

Nothing urgent legally: the decision targets Google, not SMEs. The right reflex is to prepare a short internal policy on AI assistant use (allowed tools, devices, permissions) so you are ready when the choice widens in 2027.

Conclusion

The July 16, 2026 decision marks a clear step: Europe wants a more open and competitive market for AI assistants, on mobile and in online search. For an SME, the good news is wider choice and, over time, potentially cheaper tools. The vigilance sits on the permissions granted to those assistants. To go deeper on governing your AI tools, explore our dedicated resources or discover real company case studies.