Google Assistant will disappear from your phone next month

Google has recently started sending official emails to Android users informing them of a major change to its mobile ecosystem. The popular and decade-old Google Assistant is officially retiring from mobile devices on September 4, 2026, and will be replaced entirely by a more advanced artificial intelligence model called Gemini. Those who have resisted switching to the new assistant will soon no longer have the option to choose or revert to the old version.

The shutdown process will begin in early September, with the company estimating that the entire process of gradual withdrawal from devices worldwide will take several weeks. The change will primarily affect smartphones and tablets with the Android operating system that meet the hardware requirements to run Gemini. At the same time, the discontinuation will also cover smartwatches with the Wear OS operating system, connected smart headphones, and the Android Auto interface, which works via projection from a mobile phone. For now, smart speakers, Google Home smart displays, Google TV devices, and car systems with the Android Automotive system directly built-in remain completely unchanged. Older phones with the Android 9 operating system or earlier and less than 2 GB of RAM remain an exception, where a simplified version of the old assistant will be available for smart management of basic functions.

While Google Assistant was primarily designed for quickly issuing simple commands, such as setting a reminder, controlling smart lights, or giving quick directions while driving, the new Gemini AI focuses primarily on more complex conversations and data analysis. However, many users and testers warn that Gemini still has not completely filled all the gaps in executing the most everyday and simple commands, which can make the replacement quite difficult for some. Instead of the classic voice command or power button, only Gemini will be available for use, and users can download it from the Google Play store today.