Key facts
- Google will retire its Assistant on mobile devices starting September 4.
- Users will be transitioned to Gemini for voice control.
- The change affects smartphones, smartwatches, headphones, and cars with Android Auto.
- Some older devices or unsupported regions may be exempt.
- The move is part of Google's strategy to consolidate AI offerings under the Gemini brand.
Google is set to retire its Assistant on mobile devices beginning September 4, a move that will transition users to Gemini for voice control functionalities. This significant shift will affect a wide range of devices including smartphones, smartwatches, headphones, and vehicles utilizing Android Auto. The company has indicated that certain older devices or those in unsupported regions might be exempt from this immediate transition. This decision aligns with Google's broader strategy to consolidate its artificial intelligence services and user-facing AI experiences under the Gemini brand, aiming for a more unified and advanced AI assistant. The retirement of the mobile Assistant is expected to streamline Google's AI development and deployment efforts, focusing resources on the more capable Gemini platform. Users will need to adapt to interacting with Gemini for tasks previously handled by the Google Assistant on their mobile devices and connected car systems.