Google has announced that the company is not yet prepared to fully replace its long-standing Google Assistant with the new Gemini system on Android devices. In a formal update released on Friday, the corporation revealed an adjustment to its previously established schedule, explaining that it intends to continue the process of upgrading existing Assistant users to Gemini throughout the year 2026. This modification extends beyond the original plan, which anticipated completing the transition by the conclusion of 2025. The decision signals a cautious and deliberate approach, reflecting Google’s desire to ensure technical stability, user satisfaction, and a frictionless migration experience before finalizing such a significant change.
According to the company’s official statement, Google is modifying its timeline because delivering a seamless handover from Assistant to Gemini requires additional refinement. The organization emphasized that its priority is to make the transformation as effortless as possible for consumers, minimizing potential disruptions in functionality or usability during the migration period. Once this transition is ultimately completed, devices that support Gemini—those meeting the platform’s minimum performance and compatibility standards—will no longer have access to the Google Assistant interface or associated services. This means that, when the shift is finalized, users will be unable to invoke or operate the legacy voice assistant on supported Android devices. In addition, Google confirmed that after this milestone, the standalone Google Assistant application will no longer be available for download through conventional channels such as the Play Store, effectively retiring the software for devices optimized for Gemini.
Over the course of the current year, Google has already begun implementing foundational steps to replace Assistant with Gemini on Android, signaling gradual progress toward the eventual consolidation of its intelligent services. One notable development has been the inclusion of basic operational features within Gemini itself—features traditionally associated with Google Assistant. These include the ability to initiate phone calls, schedule and manage timers, and send text messages directly through Gemini without the need to enable the setting known as Gemini Apps Activity. This adjustment enables users to interact with Gemini much like they would with a voice assistant, all while maintaining increased control over their data and privacy preferences. Specifically, those who choose to disable Gemini Apps Activity can still perform essential tasks without their usage data being leveraged for AI model training. In essence, Google’s incremental rollout strategy not only aims to test the reliability of Gemini’s assistant-like functionality but also strives to align with growing consumer expectations regarding transparency and data autonomy.
In summary, Google’s recalibrated approach underscores its commitment to ensuring a high-quality and uninterrupted user experience as it transitions from one of its most familiar AI-based tools to a more advanced and versatile successor. By extending its timeline into 2026, the company demonstrates both technical prudence and a recognition that large-scale platform migrations, particularly those involving millions of active users and complex artificial intelligence systems, demand careful planning, iterative testing, and ample time for optimization before a global release.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/848455/google-assistant-gemini-upgrade-2026
