Google will start shutting down Google Assistant on Android telephones from September 4, transferring customers to Gemini as the corporate’s default cellular voice assistant, based on an e mail Google has began sending to customers, as reported by Ars Technica.
The transition won’t occur for everybody on the identical day. Google mentioned the method may take a number of weeks to finish, which means some customers might proceed to see Google Assistant for some time after September 4. Customers who’ve already switched to Gemini won’t see a change.
Google had introduced the broader transition in March 2025, when it mentioned it will improve extra cellular customers from Google Assistant to Gemini and finally cease making the basic Assistant obtainable on most cellular units. Google additionally mentioned tablets, vehicles, headphones and watches linked to telephones would transfer to Gemini.
Google Assistant is being changed by Gemini
The September 4 transition marks the following stage of Google’s transfer away from its conventional voice assistant, which launched in 2016. Gemini has more and more taken over the features beforehand dealt with by Google Assistant, together with voice instructions and actions throughout Android apps.
Google’s present help documentation says Gemini can be utilized as the first cellular assistant on Android. It will possibly reply to “Hey Google”, reply questions on content material on the display and carry out actions equivalent to sending messages, controlling media and managing alarms and timers.
Nonetheless, the transfer additionally means some acquainted Assistant options may match otherwise. Google itself acknowledges that some options beforehand obtainable in Assistant aren’t supported in Gemini, whereas its help documentation says Gemini remains to be evolving.
For customers who’ve relied on Assistant for fast instructions, the change may due to this fact be noticeable. Whereas Assistant was constructed round comparatively predictable voice instructions, Gemini makes use of a generative AI system that may deal with longer, extra conversational requests however might not all the time reply in the identical strategy to easy instructions.
Android Auto, watches and headphones additionally transfer to Gemini
The change will lengthen past Android telephones. In response to Ars Technica, ending Assistant on cellular may also have an effect on units that depend upon a telephone for good options, together with smartwatches, headphones and vehicles utilizing Android Auto. Most Google good house units have already began transferring to Gemini.
Some units will maintain Google Assistant for now
The transition won’t instantly cowl each Google-powered gadget. Ars Technica famous that Android-powered TVs and set-top bins, together with vehicles utilizing Google built-in, weren’t included in Google’s September 4 notification. Google has not offered a date for his or her transfer to Gemini.
There may be exceptions for some older telephones or areas the place Gemini isn’t supported. Ars Technica reported that customers with units beneath Gemini’s minimal specs, or these in unsupported areas, might retain entry to Assistant for longer.
