Google faces UK push to put AI assistants on Android, Chrome choice screens

Britain’s competition watchdog on Wednesday put forward proposals to give Google Android and Chrome users greater choice and control over the search services they use, including AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Perplexity.

The tougher rules would require Google to show users a choice of search providers when they first set up an Android phone or open Chrome, prompt them once a year to pick a default, and allow AI assistants that meet its technical and security criteria to appear on those screens.

It would also require search providers to fairly attribute publisher content so users can access source material and know where results originated.