From its early days with Allo to the era before Gemini, Google Assistant stood out as one of the most intelligent digital assistants available. However, Google has since shifted its focus to Gemini, aiming to create a more personalized AI assistant for Android, effectively sidelining Google Assistant. The app hasn’t been updated since January 2024, and with Google’s latest announcement, it appears that Google Assistant is officially being phased out.
In an official blog post, Google confirmed that it will discontinue Google Assistant on most devices later this year. All Android devices running Android 10 or higher with at least 2 GB of RAM will transition to Gemini, losing the option to use Google Assistant.
Google’s Senior Director of Product Management for Gemini, Brian Marquardt, stated:
Over the coming months, we’re upgrading more users on mobile devices from Google Assistant to Gemini; and later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores
Brian also highlighted that Gemini will soon expand to automobiles, wearables, speakers, displays, and TVs. Until Gemini is fully integrated, Google Assistant will continue to function on these devices. Additional details about Gemini’s rollout across other devices will be shared in the coming months.
The transition to Gemini is largely due to the numerous features it has gained since its launch on Android. It supports a variety of app integrations, including Google Workspace, WhatsApp, Spotify, YouTube/Music, and many other utilities. Google has also introduced Gemini Live, which offers a more natural conversational experience, with more updates expected in the coming months.
Google Assistant will soon join the infamous Google Graveyard, but it stands out as one of the oldest and most successful services in Google’s history, having made a significant impact on the Android ecosystem. Unlike many other discontinued services that never gained traction, Assistant can retire with pride, having left a lasting legacy.
With Google Assistant now being phased out, what are your thoughts on Gemini taking its place on Android? Share your opinions in the comments below.
