The default search box may finally ask you to choose.

On 23 September 2026, the UK Competition and Markets Authority published strengthened proposals for search-choice screens on Google Android phones and Chrome. Under the proposal, people would choose a search service when first using the device or browser and receive a prompt every year to revisit their default. This is a consultation, not a requirement already in force; comments are invited until 9 October 2026 and the CMA expects a final decision by the end of the year.

The CMA also proposes that eligible AI assistants could appear alongside search engines, subject to technical and security criteria. Services shown on the choice screen would need to attribute publisher content clearly and accurately, so a person can identify and reach the original source. The detail matters: a list of logos is not much of a choice if one option obscures where its answers came from.

The default is a distribution deal

Many people keep the service installed or selected at setup. That makes the screen deciding the default a powerful gate to traffic, advertising and information. Repeating the choice once a year could make switching more visible, but only if the options are understandable and changing the setting actually changes search across the places people use it.

Including AI assistants recognises that some people now ask a chatbot questions they once typed into a search box. It also creates a second test: whether an answer sends readers to the reporting, research or public record behind it. Attribution should be a useful path to the source, not merely a small citation that is difficult to open.

What to watch before the rule is final

If you use Android or Chrome in the UK, you can already inspect your search settings and try another provider; you do not need to wait for a new prompt. Compare result quality, privacy controls, source links and how readily you can reverse the choice. A provider that works well for web pages may not be the one you want for local results or AI answers.

The consultation is UK-specific and may change. Watch the final criteria for which providers can appear, how choices are presented, and how publisher attribution is tested in practice. Those implementation details will decide whether the screen gives people agency or simply adds another setup step.