Google uneasy as EU moves to open its services to AI and search rivals

Google is facing fresh pressure from European Union regulators after the European Commission said it will issue guidance on how the tech giant must give rivals access to its search services and Gemini artificial intelligence models.

The move comes under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping set of rules designed to curb the power of major tech companies and make it easier for competitors to operate on a level playing field.

For years, rivals have accused Google of using its dominant market position to gain an unfair advantage. While Google has rejected those claims, the Commission said it has now opened two formal “specification proceedings” to clarify how the company must comply with the DMA.

According to EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen, the proceedings are meant to ensure that third-party online search engines and AI developers receive the same access to key resources as Google’s own services, including Google Search, Android, and its Gemini AI tools.

“This will ensure that third-party online search engines and AI providers enjoy the same access to search data and the Android operating system as Google’s own services,” Virkkunen said.

Google responded by warning that the new rules could go too far. Clare Kelly, Google’s Senior Competition Counsel, said Android is already open and that Google is licensing search data to competitors under the DMA.

However, she added that Google is concerned additional requirements often driven by complaints from competitors  could harm user privacy, security, and innovation.

One of the proceedings will focus on how Google should give third-party AI providers access to the same features used by its own AI products, such as Gemini. The second will address how Google must share anonymised search data  including rankings, queries, clicks, and views with rival search engines on fair and non-discriminatory terms. It will also clarify whether AI chatbot providers can access that data.

EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said the goal is to make sure the rapid growth of AI and digital services benefits more than just a handful of dominant players.

“We want to make sure the playing field is open and fair, not tilted in favour of the largest few,” she said.