Google Sets September 4 Cutoff for Assistant as Gemini Takes Over

Google Sets September 4 Cutoff for Assistant as Gemini Takes Over
Google Assistant is about to lose the place it held for nearly a decade at the center of Android. Starting September 4, Google will begin removing it from phones and tablets, making Gemini the default—and, for many users, only—voice assistant.

The change follows Google’s earlier plan to retire Assistant on most mobile devices, initially expected in 2025 before Gemini’s rollout received a temporary delay. An email sent to users says the removal will begin on September 4 and may take weeks to reach everyone. Once it does, users “will no longer be able to use or switch back to Google Assistant” on their phones, tablets or paired devices.

That scope extends beyond handsets. Wear OS watches, headphones, earbuds and cars using Android Auto will also lose Assistant when they rely on the phone-based experience. For users in regions where Gemini is available, and whose devices meet its requirements, the AI assistant becomes the replacement rather than an optional upgrade.

The transition is not entirely universal—at least not yet. Cars with Google built-in are expected to retain Assistant for now, while Google Home, Google TV and Android-powered TV devices do not appear to be covered by this immediate cutoff. Older devices and regions without Gemini support could also receive a reprieve.

Still, the direction is unmistakable: Google is exchanging Assistant’s familiar, tightly scripted voice commands for Gemini’s more conversational AI. Supporters will see a more capable assistant; skeptics may miss the old one’s predictability. As one account of the shift puts it, Gemini can be “powerful yet confounding” in quick voice interactions, sometimes wandering off or failing to use tools it has available.

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