What happened
Google is retiring Google Assistant on Android devices starting September 4, moving all users to Gemini. The company said in an email that the transition may take several weeks to complete.
Why it matters
This ends support for Google's older AI assistant across Android phones and connected devices—smartwatches, headphones, and cars with Android Auto. Users will have no choice but to switch to Gemini, Google's newer AI system. For those already using Gemini, nothing changes.
What to watch
The transition begins September 4, but may take several weeks for the option to fully disappear. Google originally planned to retire Assistant in late 2025 but accelerated the timeline after improving Gemini. Most of Google's smart home devices have already moved to Gemini.
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Google Assistant, the company's pre-AI assistant robot, has been slated for retirement for some time. The company originally planned to retire it in late 2025 but postponed the decision while it refined Gemini, its newer AI system built on large language model technology. Now that Gemini is mature enough to handle the workload, Google has confirmed September 4 as the official end date for Assistant on Android.
The shift consolidates Google's mobile AI strategy around a single product. By retiring Assistant across Android phones and the ecosystem of connected devices—smartwatches, headphones, and Android Auto cars—Google is forcing a unified migration to Gemini. This not only simplifies product maintenance but also ensures all users interact with the same AI engine. Users who have already switched to Gemini will see no disruption, while those still using Assistant will have a transition window measured in weeks rather than a hard cutoff.
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