Google Sets Sept. 4 to Phase Out Assistant on Android and Wear OS Devices for Gemini
The search giant begins notifying users that legacy voice assistant software will shut down on mobile devices and smartwatches next month.
Alphabet Inc.’s Google will begin removing Google Assistant from Android smartphones, Wear OS smartwatches, and connected headphones on Sept. 4 as it accelerates the transition to its Gemini artificial intelligence system.
The company started sending email notifications to users confirming that Google Assistant will fade away from supported mobile hardware over a multi-week period beginning next month. Once the phase-out reaches a device, the legacy voice assistant will no longer function.
The change targets Android devices that meet the minimum hardware specifications required to run Gemini in regions where the chatbot service has launched. Users who want to maintain voice controls on those devices must download the Gemini app from the Google Play Store.
The shutdown will not apply universally across all Google hardware. Legacy devices running Android 9 or older with less than 2GB of RAM will maintain a lightweight version of Assistant for essential functions. Smart home hardware, including Google TV, Google Home speakers, and smart displays, will also retain Google Assistant for now.
In vehicles, Google Assistant will continue to operate on car infotainment systems with Google built-in software. However, the service will be removed from vehicles running Android Auto projected from a connected mobile phone.
The September deadline follows Google’s scheduled hardware presentation on Aug. 12, where the company plans to introduce its next generation of Pixel devices built around deeper Gemini integration.
