Google Assistant will stick around a bit longer than expected for some Android users

Google wanted to remove Assistant from most Android phones by the end of 2025 and replace it with Gemini. But now the company has announced that it needs a little more time to make its AI assistant the new default digital assistant for most of its users. Google said it was adjusting its previously announced schedule to “ensure [it delivers] a seamless transition” and that updates to convert Assistant to Gemini on Android devices will continue over the next year. The company also said it will share more details in the “coming months,” so it’s possible the transition will continue beyond early 2026.

Assistant’s retirement was pretty much expected around the time Google launched Gemini and started giving it Assistant capabilities, such as the ability to control smart devices connected to your phone. It launched the Pixel 9 series with Gemini as the default assistant in 2024. The company has also integrated Gemini into all its products and previously said it plans to upgrade all “tablets, cars, and devices that connect to your phone, such as headphones and watches” with the AI-powered chatbot. However, devices must meet a few minimum requirements to get the upgrade and must run Android 10 and come with at least 2GB of RAM.