Google will begin removing Google Assistant from Android phones and tablets on September 4, forcing all users to Gemini as the company completes its transition to its AI-native assistant1,3.
The shutdown date was communicated in an email sent to users, as reported by 9to5Google and shared on Reddit. Google Assistant will also be removed from paired devices including smartwatches, headphones, and cars running Android Auto, all of which will be moved to Gemini. The discontinuation extends to the Wear OS version of Google Assistant2.
The process may take several weeks to complete after the September 4 start date, meaning some users who have not yet switched may retain access to Google Assistant temporarily beyond that point. For users who have already migrated to Gemini, nothing will change.
Google had initially planned to retire Google Assistant in late 2025 but delayed the timeline to shore up aspects of Gemini. Most of Google's smart home devices have already transitioned to Gemini ahead of the mobile shutdown.
The Verge reported that it asked Google for confirmation that the email is accurate.
ANALYSIS The September 4 cutoff marks the definitive end of Google's pre-generative-AI assistant on its largest device surface — Android phones and tablets — and cements Gemini as the sole conversational AI interface across Google's consumer hardware ecosystem, spanning mobile, wearables, and automotive platforms.