Google has begun rolling out Gemini as the default assistant on Android devices, marking the end of Google Assistant’s long run as the standard option, according to French tech outlet Frandroid.
The change means that users who interact with their phone’s assistant will now be routed to Gemini instead of the older Google Assistant. Frandroid reports that this deployment is happening now, with the transition set to be completed in the coming weeks.
Frandroid’s coverage points to a broader shift within Google’s product lineup. The company has been gradually moving its AI efforts under the Gemini brand, and this default switch is the latest step in that process. Google Assistant, which launched in 2016, has been a staple on Android phones for years, but its role is now being reduced as Gemini takes over the primary assistant duties.
Other outlets have also tracked this transition. Les Numériques reported that Google Assistant will be shut off very soon, with a specific cutoff date expected. KultureGeek similarly noted that Google Assistant will disappear from Android smartphones in September. These reports align with Frandroid’s account of the ongoing rollout.
The move is part of a larger trend across the industry. Selectra, in a separate piece, compared what Gemini, Apple’s Siri, and Meta AI can do on their respective platforms, highlighting how AI-powered assistants are becoming more capable and more central to the phone experience. Frandroid has also published a separate explainer on the difference between Gemini and the premium Gemini Intelligence tier, suggesting that Google is expanding its assistant offerings beyond the basic free version.
For Android users, the practical change is simple: when you trigger the assistant, you will now get Gemini’s responses instead of Google Assistant’s. The exact timeline for the full shutdown of Google Assistant remains unclear, but the reports suggest it will happen within the next month.
Watch for Google to confirm a final date for Assistant’s retirement as the rollout completes.
