MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google said it will begin removing Google Assistant from Android phones, tablets and certain connected devices starting Sept. 4, completing a long-planned transition to its Gemini artificial intelligence assistant as the company reshapes its consumer AI strategy.
The company has informed users that access to Google Assistant will be phased out over several weeks beginning next month, after which the legacy assistant will no longer be available on supported mobile devices or offered as an option to switch back from Gemini. The move follows Google's earlier announcement that Gemini would become the default assistant experience across most eligible Android devices.
Google said Android devices that meet Gemini's minimum hardware and software requirements and are located in supported markets will automatically transition to the newer assistant. The company has described Gemini as an AI-powered assistant designed to handle conversational requests as well as more complex, multi-step tasks while continuing to support many familiar Assistant functions, including voice commands and device controls.
The retirement of Google Assistant extends beyond smartphones and tablets to several devices that rely on a paired mobile phone, including Wear OS smartwatches, headphones and earbuds. Google Assistant will also be removed from Android Auto. However, Google said vehicles with Google built-in, as well as Google Home speakers, smart displays and Google TV devices, will continue using Google Assistant for the time being while the company develops Gemini-powered experiences for those products.
Google first announced in March 2025 that it intended to replace Google Assistant on most mobile devices with Gemini later that year. In December 2025, the company postponed the timetable into 2026, saying it wanted to ensure a smoother transition before completing the migration.
Google Assistant debuted in 2016 and became the company's primary voice assistant across Android devices and smart home products. Gemini, introduced as Google's next-generation AI assistant, is built around the company's large language models and has been expanded to support dozens of languages and more than 200 countries and territories, according to Google.
Google said the rollout will begin on Sept. 4 and may take several weeks to reach all eligible users, marking the final stage of the company's transition from Google Assistant to Gemini on supported mobile devices.
