Google has started a major shift in its mobile strategy, with the company preparing to retire Google Assistant on Android devices and replace it with Gemini, a new artificial intelligence-powered assistant designed to handle more advanced tasks.
The transition will see Google Assistant gradually disappear from supported Android phones from September 4, marking the end of a service that has been a central part of the Android experience since its launch in 2016.
For years, Google Assistant has helped users perform everyday tasks through voice commands, including making calls, sending messages, setting reminders, controlling smart home devices, checking weather updates and conducting online searches.
Google has now begun sending notifications to users, informing them that eligible devices will move to Gemini as the company consolidates its artificial intelligence services under the new platform.
The company said the switch will happen gradually, meaning Android users will not all lose access to Google Assistant on the same day. The rollout will depend on whether individual devices have the required software and hardware support to run Gemini.
“Beginning September 4, Google Assistant will start disappearing from supported Android devices as Gemini becomes the default digital assistant,” Google said in notifications sent to users.
Those who have already installed Gemini may notice minimal changes, while users still relying on Google Assistant will receive prompts guiding them through the transition.
Unlike Google Assistant, which mainly relied on voice commands and programmed responses, Gemini uses generative artificial intelligence to understand more detailed requests and provide more personalised answers.
The new assistant is designed to help users with tasks such as summarising emails, drafting messages, generating ideas, answering complex questions, creating images, planning trips, translating languages and assisting with coding.
Google says Gemini will also allow users to complete tasks across multiple applications without constantly switching between different platforms.
The company expects basic functions that users rely on daily, including alarms, calls, messages, weather updates and smart home controls, to continue through Gemini.
However, the move represents a major change in Google’s approach to digital assistants, shifting from simple voice-based commands to AI systems capable of handling wider and more complex requests.
Some older Android devices may continue using Google Assistant if they do not meet Gemini’s requirements. Google said the new assistant needs modern devices with enough memory and processing power to operate effectively.
Users will still be able to access Gemini through similar methods used for Google Assistant, including screen shortcuts and supported voice commands, depending on their device settings.
The retirement of Google Assistant comes as Google expands Gemini across its wider range of products and services. The company has integrated Gemini into platforms such as Gmail, Google Docs, Maps, Chrome and Workspace as part of its broader artificial intelligence push.
Google has also introduced Gemini-powered features on Pixel smartphones and is working with Android manufacturers to extend the assistant’s availability to more devices globally.
The move places Gemini at the centre of Google’s future software plans as technology companies compete to develop more capable artificial intelligence tools for everyday users.