Google Assistant to disappear from Android devices in September

Google Assistant is set to disappear from Android phones and tablets, Wear OS watches, and some related devices in September. The company has started telling users by email that the assistant will be removed from those products beginning September 4, and the process may take a few weeks to reach everyone.

The change applies to Android phones that meet the minimum specs to run Gemini and only in regions where Gemini is available. Paired devices like headphones that can support Gemini will also be affected. There are no changes for Google TV, Google Home, or smart displays at this stage.

A legacy version of Assistant will remain on phones running Android 9 or older with less than 2GB of RAM to support basic tasks. Assistant will still be available in cars with Google built-in, but not in vehicles using Android Auto projected from a phone. If you don't already have Gemini, you can download the app from the Play Store; otherwise, you may be able to avoid it. Google is also expected to share news about its latest Pixel devices on August 12.