EU Orders Google to Open Android to Claude and ChatGPT, Fines It 890 Million Euros Under DMA

My take: On July 16, the European Commission issued binding orders requiring Google to open Android to rival AI assistants under the Digital Markets Act. Eleven features currently exclusive to Gemini, including custom wake-word activation, real-time access to on-screen content, and the ability to execute actions inside other apps, must be available to assistants like Claude and ChatGPT by August 2027.

The practical impact is significant: an Android user will be able to set Claude as their default system-level assistant with full operating system access, not just as an isolated app. In addition, Google must share anonymized search data, including queries, clicks, and rankings, with rival search engines starting January 2027. The Commission already showed it is serious: on July 23, it fined Google 890 million euros for prior DMA violations in Search and Play Store.

For any professional or company using AI tools at work, this represents a structural shift in how AI will function on Android: the system-integrated assistant will no longer be Gemini's exclusive territory.

Is your company already evaluating how to take advantage of full system-level access from assistants like Claude when it arrives on Android?