Google Assistant: Only a few more months on smartphones
Google has set an expiration date for Google Assistant on smartphones. It ends in March 2026, after which only Gemini will be available.
From March 2026, Google will only offer Gemini as an assistant on smartphones.
(Image: Google)
Google had announced at the beginning of 2025 that it would replace the nine-year-old Google Assistant with the AI-powered assistant Gemini throughout the company's ecosystem within the year. This transition has largely been completed: the switch has been more or less implemented on smartphones from hardware partners such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, and Motorola, as well as on smart TVs, in the car, and on smartwatches with Wear OS.
Smartphone users, however, still have the option to switch between the new default Gemini and the “classic” Google Assistant in the respective settings. This option will be removed in the first quarter, specifically during March 2026. After that, Google will only offer Gemini.
This is according to a Google support document titled “Speaking with Gemini or Google Assistant.” In a gray-highlighted banner at the top, it states: “On most mobile devices, Google Assistant will be replaced by Gemini. […] Gemini understands the same commands as Google Assistant and also allows you to speak naturally. Google Assistant can be used until March 2026.”
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Gemini is to become a true assistant
As Google writes, Gemini (largely) masters the same functions as Google Assistant, but users can pose tasks, commands, and questions in natural language with the new AI solution. Furthermore, the company states that Gemini is to be developed into a true assistant. A first step towards this was the introduction of the Magic Cue function on the Pixel 10, although this feature is currently only available in the US and can be improved based on user experiences. According to the statements by Josh Woodward, Vice President of Google Labs and Gemini, Gemini is expected to become not only more personal but also “proactive” and “more capable” in the long term.
The company also spoke at the Google I/O developer conference in May about Gemini's future capabilities, including handling calls for users, serving as homework assistance, and helping with bicycle repairs. These functions were part of the “research prototype for a universal AI assistant” called Project Astra, which are to be gradually integrated into Gemini. Google has not provided a timeline for this.
(afl)
