On July 19, 2026, CNN reported that, over access and regulatory rules for next‑generation AI assistants on smartphones, Google and Apple are in a direct clash with the European Union. In the draft rules, EU regulators would require so‑called "gatekeepers" to provide more system‑level interfaces and interoperability for third‑party AI assistants, aiming to break the barriers created by preinstalled or default assistants.
The report says the legislation's initial purpose is to let users choose generative AI assistants from different providers that can safely access system capabilities such as voice, messages and location, enabling services that offer more competitive and privacy‑focused options. Apple and Google, however, have raised sharply different concerns.
Both companies have told EU officials that allowing third‑party assistants deep system permissions could introduce substantial security and privacy risks. In particular, when AI needs to read messages or access the microphone, camera and sensors to deliver a seamless experience, the core dispute is how to open APIs without compromising user data protection.
CNN also noted that Google and Apple warned one‑size‑fits‑all regulation and fragmentation in OS management could undermine long‑optimized system‑level experiences, causing instability for apps and services. Apple emphasized that its strict app review process and hardware–software integration underpin its privacy commitments, and that forced opening could weaken those protections.
At another level, CNN highlighted the companies' inherent advantages in the AI race: control of preinstalled channels and system interfaces on billions of smartphones allows them to distribute their own AI assistants to users at lower cost and via direct paths. The EU fears this could create new "invisible barriers" that make it difficult for third parties to compete on fair terms.
EU regulators have not retreated. The draft rules state that if gatekeepers abuse platform advantages, mandatory interoperability and replaceability mechanisms will be introduced, requiring vendors to provide necessary technical access and straightforward data migration paths to ensure alternative assistants remain available and competitive. The regulatory goal is to reduce lock‑in and expand space for innovation.
CNN's report also revealed intense lobbying: tech companies holding intensive consultations in Brussels and submitting technical assessments and risk analyses, while EU officials demanded detailed demonstrations of the boundaries of open APIs and the feasibility of oversight. This tug‑of‑war reflects a broader issue — how to balance promoting innovation, protecting competition and preserving security and privacy.
Experts say the eventual outcome is unlikely to be simply "fully open" or "completely closed." A more probable path is layered obligations: strict security standards for basic system capabilities combined with requirements to provide limited, auditable interfaces to qualified third parties, supported by certification and audit mechanisms to curb abuse.
The report concludes that as the EU advances the legislation, more technical details will be released in the coming months. For the global mobile ecosystem, the debate in Brussels is about more than the regulatory text itself; it concerns who will shape the next generation of user experience — a commercial contest and a value judgment about the boundaries of privacy and security.