Google has quietly begun the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini across a range of devices including phones, cars, wearables, TVs, and smart home gadgets. Although Google Assistant will remain accessible on Android for a short period during this shift, Gemini will take over as the primary voice and conversational AI, marking a significant milestone nearly a decade after Assistant’s debut.
The official support forum announcement revealed that Gemini will understand similar voice commands to Assistant while enhancing natural language comprehension. This continuity offers reassurance to long-time users who rely on functions like timers, navigation, messaging, and smart home controls daily. The transition, while gradual, indicates Google’s commitment to maintaining core functionalities during this phase-out.
Unlike Assistant, which was primarily designed for straightforward command-and-control tasks, Gemini represents a leap forward with its advanced reasoning and contextual abilities. Leveraging multimodal models, Gemini can interpret images, on-screen content, and complex conversations. This pivot aligns with Google’s broader AI strategy of integrating richer voice features, AI-driven summaries, task scheduling, and proactive assistance into a unified ecosystem.
The migration brings practical changes: on Android, Gemini is increasingly the default for voice commands, with options for remapping power or home button long presses. Android Auto now includes Gemini-powered features like summaries and smart replies. While Wear OS, Google TV, and smart displays transition as well, some legacy Assistant features—such as Assistant Snapshot and certain third-party Actions—have been retired. Users should test critical commands with Gemini, rebuild complex routines in Google Home, check microphone permissions, and verify assistant toggles in their car and watch settings.
This shift reflects the evolution of voice technology from simple voice-as-a-button interactions to sophisticated AI that understands intent, context, and multi-step tasks. Gemini is poised to become the core AI across Google’s suite, integrating voice assistance seamlessly into Search, Workspace, and developer tools. However, challenges remain in matching Assistant’s reliability, low latency, and privacy features, especially in critical environments like vehicles and wearables. Users and analysts will be closely watching Google to ensure a smooth transition without compromising the ease and trust built by Google Assistant.
