Google plans to discontinue Google Assistant on smartphones on September 4th.
Google has announced via email to users that it will gradually discontinue 'Google Assistant,' which is available on Android smartphones and tablets, starting September 4, 2026, and transition to its successor AI assistant, 'Gemini.' Google Assistant will become unavailable over several weeks, and it will not be possible to revert to the previous assistant after it is discontinued.
Google Assistant is going away on mobile devices, starting 4 September : r/google
Google plans to kill Assistant on your phone on September 4 - Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/08/google-plans-to-kill-assistant-on-your-phone-on-september-4/
Google Assistant is an Android digital assistant that allows users to perform voice searches, make phone calls, set alarms, play music, and control smart home devices. Google has been rolling out Gemini, which uses generative AI, as its new assistant and has been facilitating a shift from Google Assistant to Gemini.
Google announces it will upgrade its smartphone app, Google Assistant, to Gemini, meaning Google Assistant will become unusable by 2025 - GIGAZINE
A screenshot of an email allegedly received from Google Assistant has been posted on the overseas forum Reddit. The email states that 'Google Assistant on mobile devices is being discontinued, and Gemini, Google's next-generation AI assistant, will become the assistant experience for Android.'
According to Google, access to Google Assistant will be gradually removed starting September 4, 2026, and the rollout to all users may take several weeks. Once the transition is complete, you will no longer be able to use Google Assistant on your smartphone or tablet, and you will not be able to change your settings back to use Google Assistant.
If you live in an area where Gemini is available and your device meets the minimum system requirements, Google's mobile assistant will be replaced by Gemini. Even when you say 'Hey Google' or long-press the power button, Gemini will activate instead of the traditional Google Assistant.
The minimum system requirements for the Android version of Gemini are Android 9 or later and 2GB or more of RAM. However, Gemini cannot be used on devices running Android Go, and supported languages and features vary by region.
The changes extend not only to smartphones and tablets, but also to accessories that work with these devices. Wear OS smartwatches, Gemini-compatible headphones and earphones, and cars that project Android Auto from a smartphone will no longer be able to use Google Assistant after September 4th, and will switch to Gemini.
On the other hand, Google Assistant will continue to function in 'Google built-in' compatible vehicles, which directly incorporate Google's in-car system, for the time being after September 4th. Furthermore, this announcement does not mean that Google Assistant will be discontinued in Google Home speakers, smart displays, or Google TVs; these will be migrated to Gemini separately.
On Reddit, there are reports of users being able to use alarms, timers, phone calls, navigation, and lighting controls with Gemini without any problems. However, there are also complaints such as 'it's slower to respond than Google Assistant,' 'it can't execute simple instructions correctly,' and 'it asks for the device to be unlocked.' In particular, because Google Assistant quickly executes predetermined tasks and Gemini creates flexible responses using generative AI, they are fundamentally different, and users who prioritize the stability of basic device operations are expressing concerns about being forced to switch.
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in AI, Software, Smartphone, Posted by log1i_yk