Google to Retire Classic Assistant, Ushering in Era of Gemini on Mobile and Beyond
Google has announced a significant shift in its AI strategy, revealing plans to phase out the classic Google Assistant on mobile devices later this year, replacing it with its more advanced, generative AI-powered counterpart, Gemini. This move signals a major evolution in how users interact with their devices, promising a more personalised and capable assistant experience.
Launched in 2016, Google Assistant revolutionised voice interaction with its natural language processing and voice recognition capabilities. However, with the rise of generative AI, Google is aiming to redefine the assistant experience. “We’re in the midst of another platform shift — this time, generative AI is transforming the way we interact with technology,” Google stated in a recent announcement.
Transitioning from Assistant to Gemini: A Phased Rollout
The transition to Gemini has already begun, with millions of users reporting positive experiences with the new AI-powered features. Google plans to accelerate this rollout, upgrading more mobile users from Google Assistant to Gemini in the coming months. Later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores.
The upgrade extends beyond smartphones. Tablets, cars, and devices connected to phones, such as headphones and watches, will also transition to Gemini. Google is also developing a new Gemini-powered experience for home devices like speakers, displays, and TVs, with more details to be shared in the coming months. Until then, Google Assistant will continue to operate on these home devices.
Gemini, launched last year, has seen rapid expansion, now available in over 40 languages and more than 200 countries. Google is focusing on enhancing the daily user experience, particularly for those transitioning from Google Assistant, by incorporating popular features like music playback, timer settings, and lock screen actions.
However, Gemini’s capabilities extend far beyond its predecessor. Features like “Gemini Live,” enabling free-flowing, multimodal conversations, and “Deep Research,” transforming Gemini into a personal research assistant, showcase the power of generative AI. These features, Google emphasises, are only possible with the advancements in artificial intelligence.
