Google Assistant To Retire On Android As Gemini Migration Begins

Google has announced that it will begin phasing out Google Assistant on Android devices from September 4 as the company moves towards making Gemini its primary artificial intelligence assistant. The transition will take place gradually over several weeks, after which users will no longer be able to access or switch back to Google Assistant on supported devices.

In an email sent to users, Google confirmed that access to Google Assistant will start being removed from September 4. The company said the change will be rolled out in phases and will eventually affect Android phones, tablets and paired devices. Once the transition reaches a device, Gemini will become the default AI assistant experience.

The shift will also impact other connected platforms, including Wear OS smartwatches, headphones and vehicles using Android Auto through a connected smartphone. Google had initially planned to retire Assistant by the end of 2025 but delayed the move to allow Gemini to gain more capabilities and improve its overall user experience.

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Google first announced the migration from Assistant to Gemini in March 2025, describing generative artificial intelligence as the next major stage of computing. The company said at the time that millions of users had already moved to Gemini, and the latest update will make the transition mandatory for remaining users.

Gemini has witnessed rapid adoption over the past year, with Google reporting significant growth in its user base. The AI assistant reached 950 million monthly active users in the second quarter, compared with 450 million a year earlier, while daily usage also increased substantially. However, Google has not disclosed the current number of active Google Assistant users.

The retirement of Google Assistant marks another major product shutdown by the technology giant, following discontinued services such as Stadia, Hangouts, Google Podcasts and Google Domains. With Gemini taking over, Google is now focusing on expanding generative AI capabilities across its ecosystem and making AI-powered interactions central to its devices and services.

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