Google will replace Google Assistant on Android phones with Gemini later this year, the company announced on Friday.
Google said in a blog post that it’ll upgrade more users from Google Assistant to Gemini “over the coming months.” Later this year, Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available from app stores.
“Additionally, we’ll be upgrading tablets, cars and devices that connect to your phone, such as headphones and watches, to Gemini,” the company added. “We’re also bringing a new experience, powered by Gemini, to home devices like speakers, displays and TVs.”
Google said it’ll share more details with users in the next few months, and that, until then, Assistant will continue to operate on the aforementioned devices.
Google notes it has worked to improve the Gemini user experience ahead of the Assistant wind-down, especially for users relying on various Assistant functions. For instance, Google has added several highly requested features to Gemini on Android devices, such as the ability to play music, support for timers, and an option to take actions directly from a user’s lock screen.
The move to drop Assistant in favor of Gemini isn’t surprising, especially considering Google launched its Pixel 9 smartphone line with Gemini as the default virtual assistant. Google notes that Gemini has more advanced capabilities than Assistant (in theory, at least), and provides new ways of getting help and info on topics via tools like Gemini Live and Deep Research.
