The move finalizes a migration Google has been preparing over the past year. Assistant, first introduced in 2016, is being replaced by Gemini as Google consolidates its consumer AI experience around a single assistant. Google had previously delayed the shutdown before confirming the September cutoff.
Users who have not yet switched can install Gemini from the Google Play Store if it is not already available on their device. During setup, Gemini guides users through replacing Google Assistant as the default assistant while keeping the same Google account, allowing the transition to occur without requiring account changes.
Because Google Assistant does not maintain a traditional conversation history, there are no chats to transfer during the migration. Previous Assistant interactions remain accessible through the Web & App Activity page associated with a user's Google account.
Google said existing voice commands will continue to work with Gemini, including activation through the "Hey Google" wake phrase. Conversations with Gemini are also synchronized across supported devices by default.
The removal of Google Assistant extends beyond phones and tablets to paired accessories, including Wear OS smartwatches, Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, as well as Android Auto. Google Built-in vehicles and several other Google hardware categories will retain Assistant support for the time being.
The transition marks the end of Google Assistant as a standalone voice assistant on supported Android hardware, leaving Gemini as the primary AI assistant for eligible devices once the rollout is complete.
This analysis is based on reporting from techradar.
Image courtesy of Google.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
