Google is officially phasing out its long-standing virtual assistant, Google Assistant, in favor of its next-generation AI initiative, Gemini. Announced in a blog post on Friday, the transition marks a major shift in the company’s AI strategy, with a broader rollout of Gemini expected for more users in the coming months.
As part of this transition, Google Assistant will gradually be removed from most mobile devices. The classic assistant will no longer be accessible and will be pulled from mobile app stores later this year. However, devices running Android 9 or earlier with at least 2GB of RAM will retain access to Google Assistant, according to 9to5Google.
Beyond smartphones, Google plans to extend Gemini’s capabilities to tablets, vehicles, and connected devices such as headphones and smartwatches. Additionally, smart home products—including speakers, displays, and televisions—will receive AI-powered upgrades through Gemini.
The company has committed to sharing more details in the coming months, with speculation that key announcements could be made during the Google I/O event in May. In the meantime, Google Assistant will remain functional on supported devices until the full transition is completed.
Launched in 2016, Google Assistant became a leading virtual assistant, integrating AI-powered voice control across a wide range of devices. However, with Gemini positioned as Google’s new AI-driven ecosystem, the retirement of Google Assistant signals the company’s broader push toward next-generation AI experiences.
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