From Google Assistant to Gemini: What is happening
Released in 2016, Google Assistant has been familiar to Android users for about a decade as the core of voice commands and smart home control. A massive transition is now underway to replace Google Assistant with Google's latest AI, Gemini.
In March 2025, Google officially announced that it would "upgrade the Assistant experience on mobile devices to Gemini." While initially aiming for completion by the end of 2025, the company subsequently postponed the timeline to 2026.
Overview of the transition timeline
| Timeframe | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | Google announces the Assistant-to-Gemini transition on its official blog |
| December 2025 | Timeline postponed to 2026 "to ensure a seamless transition" |
| March 2026 | Transition gains full momentum on platforms including Android Auto. Resource code for an "Assistant is gone now" alert confirmed in code analysis of Google app v17.8.62 |
| May 2026 (expected) | Possible final announcement regarding the full transition at Google I/O 2026 |
Regarding the reason for the postponement, Google explained that it is "to provide a seamless transition experience."
Why was it postponed?
Migrating hundreds of millions of users from a command-and-control system used for a decade to a new LLM-based assistant represents a major technical hurdle.
While Gemini excels at answering complex questions, summarizing, and writing, there were cases where it could not match Google Assistant's speed and reliability in simple tasks such as the following:
- Setting timers and alarms
- Controlling smart home devices
- Voice control in Android Auto
Google essentially secured additional development time to achieve feature parity in these areas.
Scope and requirements of the transition
Eligible devices for transition
- Smartphones and tablets with Android 10 or higher and at least 2 GB of RAM
- Smartwatches powered by Wear OS
- In-vehicle systems equipped with Android Auto
- Google TV
- Bluetooth-connected devices such as headphones
Devices not eligible for transition
- Devices running Android 9 or earlier, or with less than 2 GB of RAM → Continue using Google Assistant
After the transition is complete, the standalone Google Assistant app will be removed from the Play Store, and eligible devices will automatically be upgraded to Gemini. The iOS version of the Google Assistant app is also scheduled to be discontinued.
What changes with Gemini
Strengths not found in Google Assistant
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Advanced reasoning | Handles complex questions and multistep instructions |
| Context retention | Remembers conversational flow for natural dialogue |
| Summarization and analysis | Summarizes lengthy documents and emails |
| Writing assistance | Drafts emails and assists with brainstorming |
| Multimodal support | Cross-modal understanding across text, images, and audio |
Recently added features
Features frequently requested by Google Assistant users are being added incrementally to the Gemini app.
- Music playback (Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.)
- Setting timers and alarms
- Executing actions from the lock screen
- Reminder management
- Call and message actions
Current rollout status
Devices where Gemini is already the default
- Pixel 10 Series — Comes with Gemini pre-installed from factory
- Wear OS — Currently rolling out to supported devices
- Android Auto — Rolling out gradually
Platforms in transition
- Google Home (smart speakers and smart displays) — Available via the Early Access Program
- Google TV — Rolling out incrementally
What users should do now
1. Try the Gemini app
At present, you can freely switch between Google Assistant and Gemini. If Gemini doesn't suit your needs, you can switch back to Google Assistant. We recommend trying it once before the transition is complete to check how it feels to use.
2. Check device requirements
Check whether your device meets the requirements of Android 10 or higher and at least 2 GB of RAM. You can check this under Settings > About phone.
3. Organize routines and shortcuts
It is helpful to check in advance whether routines and shortcuts configured in Google Assistant also work with Gemini to ensure a smooth transition.
Impact on businesses and developers
Smart home integration
Smart home device manufacturers and IoT developers must proceed with testing Gemini compatibility. Verifying operation with Gemini is especially critical for integrations with Matter- and Thread-compatible devices.
Voice UX design
Apps providing voice UIs based on Google Assistant may need updates to support Gemini Actions.
Business opportunities
Because Gemini is capable of more advanced dialogue than Google Assistant, it is expected to be utilized for more complex use cases, including customer support, internal knowledge bases, and operational efficiency.
Conclusion
The transition from Google Assistant to Gemini is a symbolic move marking Google's major shift toward AI-first experiences.
With the postponement from the original end of 2025 into 2026, users have been granted preparation time. While featuring advanced AI capabilities, Gemini is also seeing ongoing improvements in the reliability of everyday voice operations.
A final announcement regarding the full transition is likely to be made at Google I/O 2026 (scheduled for May 2026), making upcoming developments worth watching closely.
