Google has announced it will be phasing out the old Google Assistant on Android devices and replacing it with Gemini AI by the end of this year. This will extend beyond smartphones to tablets, headphones, and smartwatches that currently use Google Assistant.
As of now, Android users have the choice between the classic Google Assistant (introduced in 2016) and the AI-powered Gemini Assistant. But by the end of 2025, that choice will go away and Gemini will be the default voice assistant on all Android phones.
The transition won’t just affect new devices which will come with Gemini pre-installed but also the original Google Assistant app will be discontinued and removed from the Play Store. This will prevent any new downloads of the old assistant and force users to upgrade to Gemini. Over the next few months, Google will actively encourage Android users to do so.
It will also impact other devices with Google Assistant like tablets, headphones, and smartwatches. Even smart home devices like speakers and Google TV will offer a new experience powered by Gemini though details about these changes are not yet disclosed.
This aligns with Google’s recent focus on improving and expanding its ecosystem with Gemini. Gemini has features like Gemini Live and Deep Research which makes it a major upgrade over the old assistant.
