Google Faces UK Plan to Open Android and Chrome Search to AI Rivals
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed changes that would require Google to offer British consumers more options for search services, including AI assistants. The proposals aim to increase competition in the online search market as AI-powered services gain popularity.
Under the new rules, Google would have to present users with a selection of search services when they first activate an Android device or launch Chrome. This includes allowing AI assistants like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity to compete alongside conventional search engines.
The regulator is also seeking stronger protections for publishers whose material appears in search results. Providers included on the selection screens would be required to identify the origins of publisher content and make the underlying material accessible to users.