EU forces Google to let rival AI models run on Android

The EU's order reflects a broader regulatory and geopolitical shift. Google's practice of preloading Gemini exclusively onto Android devices—used by 60% of EU adults—has effectively locked rivals out of the smartphone interface where AI assistants are increasingly useful. By forcing open access, the Commission removes a structural barrier to competition and gives European AI firms, particularly Mistral, a genuine channel to smartphone users.

The timing underscores a strategic concern articulated by Mistral's leadership: Washington's tightening restrictions on overseas access to US AI models have created an opening for Europe to build its own ecosystem. Mistral, positioned as Europe's closest equivalent to a frontier AI lab, stands to gain substantially from this order, as does OpenAI and Anthropic, whose models can now compete directly on Android without reliance on third-party apps or browser access. The move signals that EU regulators are willing to use antitrust authority to level the playing field—not only for competition's sake, but to foster technological sovereignty.