Google and Apple are clashing with the EU over the future of AI assistants

The European Commission is forcing a change to how AI assistants function on smartphones within the European Union. Under the Digital Markets Act, regulators want Apple and Google to allow third-party AI agents the same system-level access currently reserved for Gemini and Siri. The mandate requires Google to open Android to external agents by July 2027 and share specific search data with competitors starting in January.

Both Apple and Google oppose these requirements. They argue that granting external applications deep access to device data, microphones, and messaging creates significant security risks for users. Apple has already cited these privacy concerns as the reason for delaying the launch of its new Siri AI features in the EU. Google executives maintain that the current settings already allow users to switch their default assistant manually, making the mandate unnecessary.

Analysts suggest the push is about market competition rather than just technical functionality. If third-party tools like ChatGPT gain the ability to operate apps directly on behalf of a user, it could bypass the current ecosystem control held by Apple and Google. This shift could change how users interact with their devices, effectively making the smartphone operating system a neutral host for any AI agent a user chooses.

Privacy experts remain cautious about the implications. Allowing external AI agents to manage tasks like booking rides or accessing private messages requires high levels of trust in those developers. There is a fear that without rigorous security safeguards, users could face data exposure or unauthorized actions taken by malfunctioning agents. The debate highlights the tension between promoting market competition and maintaining the device security that users expect from their smartphone manufacturers.

As the deadline approaches, the conflict illustrates the broader struggle to balance platform openness with individual privacy protections. Whether regulators will accept the security proposals from Apple and Google or demand deeper system integration remains to be seen. For now, the smartphone remains a central battlefield for the future of artificial intelligence.