Google confirms Gemini will completely replace Assistant on phones by 2026.

Google's major project to replace the familiar Google Assistant with a smarter AI assistant called Gemini is experiencing a slight delay. The transition will certainly still happen, but it cannot be completed this year as originally planned. Instead, Google has confirmed that the rollout will extend into 2026, meaning users will have more time to use the 'older' Google Assistant while the company continues to refine the Gemini experience.

 

Earlier this spring, Google outlined a rather bold vision for how we interact with smartphones. Instead of a simple voice assistant that only listens to commands and executes them, Google wants to move towards an AI capable of reasoning, understanding deep context, and communicating more naturally with users.

Initial announcements in March suggested Gemini would see rapid 'upgrades' on mobile devices, with Google Assistant gradually disappearing from new Android phone models and app stores in the following months. However, reality proved to be far more complex than anticipated.

It's not just about changing the name.

Gemini on mobile is not simply a rebranded version of Google Assistant. Google sees it as a fundamental shift towards a personalized AI assistant capable of understanding natural conversations and interacting directly with apps on your phone.

Built on the latest generative AI technologies, Gemini supports many features that the old Assistant couldn't, such as free-form conversations with Gemini Live, or providing complex answers based on research and information synthesis. These points demonstrate Google's ambition to make Gemini the 'central intelligence' on mobile devices.

 

Despite initial rollout steps on Wear OS and Android Auto, Google has decided to slow down. The company's goal is to ensure a seamless transition before Google Assistant is officially discontinued.

A quiet update on Google's support page confirms that the migration of mobile users to Gemini will continue throughout 2026, instead of ending in 2025 as previously planned. The roadmap on other platforms, such as cars, is likely to follow a similar slow pace.

For current Android users, this means you won't lose Google Assistant immediately. The old assistant can still handle familiar tasks like setting timers, making calls, or quickly answering basic questions.

For early access, users can proactively download the Gemini app to try out new features. In the long term, Gemini will become the default assistant, handling daily tasks and simultaneously leveraging data from various applications to provide more intelligent support.

A cautious but necessary step.

This delay suggests Google is taking a safe approach with a change of enormous scale. Replacing a system that has been the backbone of Android for nearly a decade is no simple task. It requires rigorous testing and gradual improvements to ensure stable operation across billions of devices.

Google's ultimate goal remains unchanged: to eliminate Assistant and integrate Gemini into everything – from tablets and headphones to smart home devices and cars. It's likely that the first half of 2026 will see a more significant transition, as Gemini becomes increasingly intelligent and deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.