- Gemini will take longer to reach all Android devices
- After that, Google Assistant will stop working
- No specific deadline in 2026 has been mentioned.
You may remember that back in March, Google declared that its shiny new Gemini AI app would replace Google Assistant on Android devices by the end of 2025. In a new update, Google now says the process will continue until 2026.
The latest announcement (via 9to5Google) explains that the above timeline will be adjusted so that “a seamless transition” between the old and new AI can be ensured, and that more details will be shared in the coming months.
There is no fixed deadline for the extension, all we know is that work will continue “until 2026.” We didn’t receive any mention of specific devices that are still waiting for the transition, nor of any particular bugs that need to be fixed.
Of course, on newer devices like the Google Pixel 10 there’s only Gemini and no sign of Google Assistant, but on many older devices you can still run both AI apps and switch between them for different tasks.
Technical challenges
When the change is finally complete next year, Google Assistant will stop working on all Android phones and tablets and will no longer be available for download. From then on, it will have to be the Google Assistant for everyone.
This is a process that also happens on all other devices and platforms, as you may have noticed. It looks like Gemini will be the default assistant for everyone on Android Auto in March 2026, for example.
Google is also busy switching all of its smart home devices to Gemini, and devices dating back 10 years are eligible for the switch. This isn’t going as well as Google would like, a sign of how technically challenging this all is.
The difficulties Google has had with smart home devices may also have contributed to the delay in Android. If you’re still using Google Assistant on an Android phone or tablet, you’ll be able to continue doing so for a little while longer.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
