Goodbye Google Assistant, hello Gemini

What we expected has happened. Google is finally saying goodbye to Google Assistant.

The company will upgrade “more” users from Google Assistant to Gemini in the coming months, according to a blog post. The classic Google Assistant “will no longer be available on most mobile devices or available for new downloads in mobile app stores” later this year. 9to5Google reports that phones running older Android (Android 9 or earlier) will still be able to use the old Assistant.

“We will also be bringing Gemini to tablets, cars, and devices that connect to your phone, such as headphones and watches,” Google says. “We will also bring the new Gemini-powered experience to home devices, such as speakers, displays, and TVs.”

We'll have more details in the coming months or at their Google I/O conference in May. Until then, you can continue to use Assistant.

Google first introduced its digital assistant in 2016. But over the past year, Gemini has taken over its role, and the Assistant is no longer visible on newer phones. If you want to summon it with the "Hey Google" command or the power button, Gemini will answer instead.