Google has officially hit the brakes on its ambitious plan to fully replace the classic Google Assistant with Gemini by the end of 2025. In a strategic shift, the maker of Android announced that the transition for mobile devices is being extended into 2026, giving the legacy voice assistant another year, just weeks before its original expiration date. Although the Google Assistant is seen far less in modern Android devices, Google is willing to keep it around for basic voice-based functions, even when the smarter new Gemini app is preloaded as the default on-device assistant.
Assistant to Gemini: Why Google is delaying
In March 2025, Google vowed to upgrade most Android phones and tablets to Gemini by the end of the year. However, with the holiday season approaching and several issues still being ironed out, the company has revised its roadmap.
– Seamless transition” Google stated the adjustment is necessary to “make sure we deliver a seamless transition.” Moving millions of users from a decade-old, reliable service to a generative AI model involves immense technical complexity.
– Avoiding holiday chaos: Analysts suggest that forcing a major OS-level change during the December holidays—a peak time for device usage—could have led to widespread user frustration if bugs occurred.
– March 2026 target: While a global rollout will continue throughout next year, internal targets suggest March 2026 as a key milestone for the final Assistant sunset on mobile.
What this means for Android Users
For now, the status quo remains. If you are a fan of the classic Assistant, you can continue using it without being forced to switch.
– Users can still choose between Gemini and Assistant in their device settings. The “Switch to Google Assistant” toggle within the Gemini app will remain active for the foreseeable future.
– The delay gives Google more time to ensure Gemini can match all of Assistant’s core utility features—such as complex smart home routines, specific media controls, and offline tasks—before the older version is deactivated.
– Newer flagship devices like the Pixel 10 series will continue to ship with Gemini as the default, but they will still retain the option to fall back to Assistant during this extended grace period.
10 years of Google Assistant
The move to 2026 is historically symbolic. Google Assistant first launched in 2016 alongside the original Pixel smartphone. By extending the transition, Google ensures that Assistant will complete a full ten-year cycle of service before passing the torch entirely to Gemini.
While the mobile transition is slowing down, other branches of the ecosystem are moving faster. Gemini is already the primary assistant on Wear OS smartwatches and is currently rolling out as the default for Android Auto and Google TV.
