Google Assistant shutdown continues as Gemini takes over Android

Google's phased retirement of Google Assistant is now underway following the September 4 cutoff. Supported Android phones, tablets and associated Wear OS devices are progressively losing the option to return to the older assistant as Gemini becomes Google's standard voice interface. The transition also affects headphones and Android Auto configurations that depended on a connected phone.

Google Assistant helped define Android voice control for more than a decade, so replacing it is more consequential than simply changing an application. Users built habits around predictable commands for timers, navigation, calls and smart-home controls. Gemini offers far richer conversational abilities but also needs to remain dependable for those mundane tasks. Google is staggering the change over several weeks rather than switching everyone simultaneously.

Some older hardware and regions without Gemini support retain Assistant for now, while certain TVs and vehicles with Google built-in will transition later. The shift effectively makes generative AI part of Android's default interaction model.