Google has announced plans to phase out Google Assistant in favor of Gemini, its AI-powered assistant, marking a major shift in its digital assistant strategy. The transition, set to take place over the coming months, aligns with Google’s vision of integrating generative AI into user experiences.
According to the tech giant, Google Assistant will no longer be available on most mobile devices later this year, with Gemini gradually replacing it on smartphones and expanding to other platforms. Millions of users have already transitioned to Gemini, and Google reports positive feedback on its AI-driven capabilities.
What’s Changing?
- Gradual Rollout: Mobile users will be upgraded to Gemini first, followed by other connected devices.
- Extended Support: Google will extend Gemini to tablets, cars, headphones, smartwatches, and other devices.
- Home Device Integration: A new Gemini-powered experience will be introduced for smart speakers, displays, and TVs, while Google Assistant will remain functional on these devices for now.
Support for Older Devices
Reports indicate that older Android phones (running Android 9 or earlier) and devices with less than 2GB of RAM will still have access to Google Assistant even after its phase-out for most users. This suggests that Google is not discontinuing Assistant entirely, likely due to hardware limitations that prevent Gemini’s AI-powered features from running efficiently on lower-end devices.
Google has emphasized that Gemini will provide a more personalized, interactive, and intelligent assistant experience, aligning with its broader AI strategy. More details on Gemini’s expansion and home device integration are expected in the coming months.