Google to phase out Assistant, migrate features to Gemini

techAug 6, 202627935

Google has begun emailing Android users that, beginning September 4, Google Assistant will be retired on eligible Android smartphones, tablets, Wear OS smartwatches, and Bluetooth headsets and replaced as the default assistant by the generative AI Gemini service. In the weeks after September 4, Google says the option to switch back to Google Assistant will be removed so that saying Hey Google or long-pressing the power button will exclusively summon Gemini. Smart home and automotive devices are currently exceptions but Google says those will transition to Gemini eventually; older phones on Android 9 or with hardware unable to run Gemini will keep a streamlined version of Google Assistant. Google originally planned to end Assistant by the end of 2025, then delayed that to late 2026 and allowed an additional six-month period while Gemini matured. The company acknowledges Gemini can hallucinate and currently lacks support for some podcast platforms, third-party music providers, and Interpreter Mode, while touting Gemini’s stronger natural language understanding and complex problem-solving. Google timed the move ahead of an August 12 hardware showcase and frames the change as a push to embed AI more deeply into Android.

Ian Boudreau

@ianboudreau.com

They're discontinuing Google Assistant in a month to make everyone start using Gemini instead, so I tried using it just now and it sucks ass

3492h ago

Ian Boudreau376

The fucking chat basis for every interaction is enraging. I don't want to have a conversation with my phone about what I want my phone to do

dinglius-bonkler.bsky.social15

And it will never not suck ass because they fired all the people who wanted to write good software, as opposed to maximizing engagement and token burn. A golden age of software, this ain't.

News and Coffee13

100% agree. I have been sending user complaints and reports thru my Pixel feedback to complain about how bad Gemini is and how I resent being forced to use it (and the inability to disable it permanently)

Shane Becker10

“I think you said you wanted to use Gemini. Is that correct? If yes, press 1. If no, press 1.”

💜 Cyn ✨9

Fuck, you mean the shit that Google home mini runs? God dammit I lack the energy to find another solution right now (I know I need to get off Google shit eventually, finally divested myself from the browser. But the minis at home are something I use a lot for timers/basic facts/math/measurements)

garlic (not a man)9

god fucking damnit I've never used Gemini and if it turns on I've only ever screamed "fuck off and die you fucking clanker bitch"

Quoting this

J.M. Berger12

The Sirius Cybernetics Corp. is the most accurate prophecy in all of speculative fiction. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYsn...

Darth Astris (TEAM TRAGEDY)5

Fantastic fuck you to the disabled. Well done, Google. :/

Lupo! ➡️ Furrydelphia!!!!!!

@lupopossum.bsky.social

STOP FUCKING WITH MY DEVICES I DO NOT WANT AI I WILL NOT USE AI. I DON'T WANT TO BURN A BOTTLE OF WATER JUST TO PLAY A SONG HANDS FREE IN THE CAR I WOULD RATHER CRASH INTO A TREE AND KILL!!!!! MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK YOU GOOGLE Gemini isn't even good!!!! Its so so so much worse than the assistant

1663h ago

Lupo! ➡️ Furrydelphia!!!!!!54

I'm so tired of these fuckass companies trying to force me to use a service that is WORSE than the existing feature. WHY would I need an AI to look up directions when something that uses LESS energy, LESS computing power and LESS TIME already exists??? It's maddening

Linux Lite 🔞2

yeah true! I tried to start a playlist hands free, it said something like 'sounds like you're trying to play a playlist, open the YouTube music app, click on your music and press play!' ts pmo

Ellie Queer Deer 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🦌2

I asked it to make a reminder for the the other day and it was like "i'm sorry i can't directly set reminders for you" ... like come on the old assistant could do that!

Millie the Puppy Shark🏳️‍⚧️1

The only way that I have found to even attempt to avoid ai being shoved in your face is to run last gen tech or older. It's not the best solution but it's worked for me so far

✕ 𝗗𝗔𝗪𝗚𝗜𝗘 ✕1

google is just absolute trashy hot dog water mess…. =~=;

Viola Smart

@smartvpants.bsky.social

Google: *shoots Google assistant.* It's Gemini or NOTHING! Me: I choose nothing. Google: I knew you'd come to the ri—wait, what did you say? Me: *takes a bite of a pimento cheese sandwich* *mumbles "muhfing" through crumbs*

984h ago

ᴄ ꜱᴛᴜᴀʀᴛ ʜᴀʀᴅᴡɪᴄᴋ🛸

@cstuarthardwick.com

Dear Google. I get that Google Assistant going away. Do YOU get that Gemini simply doesn't work as a replacement? That it's far too processor intensive and stupid because it's trying to be smarter than anyone wants and assistant to be? No? Didn't think so.

623h ago

Rad O'Brien, Chief Engineer

@radobrien.myatproto.social

im going to become the FUCKING JOKER I use Google Assistant for so much little shit I dont want this nobody wants this

google email saying theyre discontinuing Google Assistant and replacing it with Gemini AI slop

513h ago

Execute! Of This Function2

Another one on the pile. cc: @killedbygoogle.com

Gillian (Jill)1

I've been resisting every time my phone tries to get me to enable Gemini on my Google Home devices and this really annoys me.

Ericbazinga1

I'm currently trying this out after a friend recommended it to me, it's an open-source replacement assistant app. Seems promising so far. github.com/DicioTeam/di...

Chase Dank1

It is so innacurate compared to Assistant.

852dude

@852dude.bsky.social

Lol. Google is forcing an update to its Gemini bullshit on phones by deleting the non-ai assistant from every android device. That sucks. If I want to ask my phone to play a song in the car ive got to use their AI. That really sucks.

We're writing to let you know that the Google Assistant on your mobile device is being discontinued, and Gemini - our next-generation AI-powered assistant – is now the assistant experience on Android.1
What this means for your mobile device
As we transition our mobile experience to Gemini, Google Assistant will no longer be available on your mobile device. We will begin removing access to Google Assistant starting on 4 September, and expect that this process may take a few weeks to reach everyone. Once availability is removed, you will no longer be able to use or switch back to Google Assistant on your phone, tablet or paired devices.
If your Android device meets

323h ago

852dude10

Welcome to setting a Playlist and never changing the channel in the car now, I guess.

Evilbatwitch2

I never used bixby or the assistant, and I went into settings and told gemini to fuck off.

💀your friend corrigan.🥀2

They did this on my Galaxy watch and I bought a whole ass new watch. They can go ahead and try me on my phone. I'm not loyal.

Sean O'Connor2

Yeah, my new phone came that way, and telling it to call someone, set a timer, play anything is so hit or miss. Ai sucks on it.

bowie deschanel

@raisingonebrow.bsky.social

There was a period of time where the only way to shutdown my android was to ask Gemini to do it. Enraging that we went from two buttons to shutdown to having to beg my phone to do it.

282h ago

Stephen13

I found this out on my way into a funeral. I wanted to make sure I wouldn't accidentally disturb things, and hey now I can't even turn off my phone! What a waste

Alyssa Shulman1

I'm afraid I can't do that Dave

Turn Down For Hwæt1

Oh no I just held down my power button and the assistant popped up. Fuck that update entirely.

five letter word for dragon

@dragom.bsky.social

i'm not using gemini. i'm just not. i'm not activating it. i'm not giving it access. i'm never hitting that agree button. if it means i just don't have a voice assistant anymore idc

192h ago

sam !

@sam.robotsfightingdinosaurs.com

oh my fucking god they're getting rid of Google assistant to force people into gemini and I cannot stress enough that Google assistant is the only voice assistant that works even a bit and gemini straight up does not

143h ago

Lorelli - Read My Comic

@exitrealitystudios.com

"We're discontinuing Google Assistant and replacing it with Gemini" I'm not surprised but you've also guaranteed I'll never touch your assistant again

123h ago

Blaidd's husband

@stellarstag.bsky.social

Got the "discontinuing google assistant you gotta have gemini now" email from google and i gotta be honest with everything going on in the world and in my personal life im like 1 second away from going full unabomber

152h ago