Google is set to retire Google Assistant on Android phones and tablets from September 4, replacing it with the AI-powered Gemini, signalling a major shift in its voice assistant strategy amid user concerns and device compatibility issues.
Google is preparing to retire Google Assistant on Android phones and tablets from September 4, replacing it with Gemini on compatible devices in markets where its AI service is available. According to reports from The Verge and 9to5Google, users are already being notified by email, although the change is expected to roll out over several weeks rather than reaching every device on the same day.
The move marks a decisive break from the command-based assistant Google launched in 2016. TechRadar reported that the phase-out also covers Wear OS devices and Android Auto, while Google says phones and tablets that can run Gemini will switch to it as the default assistant. Once the transition lands on a device, users will not be able to revert to Google Assistant.
Gemini is intended to take over the practical tasks users associate with Assistant, including calls, messages and timers, while also handling more complex requests and broader app integration. Tom’s Guide said Google has been folding older Assistant functions into Gemini over time, and TechRadar noted that the assistant can be downloaded from Google Play if it is not already installed. The service also continues to support the familiar “Hey Google” wake phrase.
The change is not universal across Google’s ecosystem. Google Home and Google TV devices are not part of this shutdown for now, and cars with Google built in will keep Assistant after September 4, according to the company’s notice. That leaves a split between devices built around a local voice interface and those that depend on a connected Android phone, where Gemini is becoming the main entry point.
For users, the key issue is compatibility. Devices that do not meet Gemini’s requirements, or that are in regions where the service is not offered, may not move over in the same way. Google’s wider push suggests a more AI-centred Android experience, but the response from some users has been cautious, with complaints reported about Gemini’s reliability on basic tasks. The success of the transition will depend on whether Gemini can match Assistant’s speed and simplicity while offering the more advanced features Google is trying to promote.
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