Google Assistant will be removed from Android phones and tablets on Sept. 4

In short: Google says it will start removing Google Assistant from Android phones and tablets on September 4, and Gemini will replace it on supported devices.

What happened

Google plans to remove access to Google Assistant on Android phones and tablets starting September 4. The change will also affect “paired” devices connected to your phone, like Wear OS smartwatches, headphones, and earbuds.

According to an email shared by some users, once Assistant is removed you will not be able to use it or switch back to it on your phone or tablet. Google says the rollout may take a few weeks, so some people will lose access earlier or later than others.

If you live in a place where Gemini is available, and your device meets Google’s minimum requirements, Gemini will be the only built-in assistant option. Gemini is Google’s newer assistant that uses AI (software that can respond more like a person, based on patterns it learned from lots of text). In other words, Google is swapping an older helper for a newer one, like replacing a basic customer service line with a smarter call center.

The email also says cars using Android Auto will lose Google Assistant. Cars with “Google built-in” will keep Assistant for now. The report says Google Home and Google TV devices do not seem to be affected, so Google Assistant will still exist in some places after September.

Why it matters

If you use “Hey Google” for calls, texts, reminders, or controlling apps, this change could affect your daily routine. It also means some older devices may not have a working Google assistant at all if they do not qualify for Gemini.

Source: The Verge AI