Published on: March 17, 2025 / update from: March 17, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
The future of digital assistants: Google Gemini as a complete replacement for the Google Assistant - Image: Xpert.digital
Google Assistant: Out of the voice assistant - Gemini takes over
Google Assistant is replaced by Gemini: What does that mean for users?
Google has officially confirmed that the Google Assistant established since 2016 is completely replaced by the AI-based chatbot Gemini. The changeover is scheduled to take place in the course of 2025 and affects almost all platforms on which the assistant was previously available. This strategic decision marks a significant change in Google's AI strategy, since Gemini is positioned as a more powerful alternative based on generative AI. Users will not keep an option between the two assistants, since the classic Google Assistant disappear from most mobile devices and will no longer be available for download into app stores.
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The era of Google Assistant comes to an end
The Google Assistant was introduced in 2016 and quickly developed into one of the central Google products. He brought natural language processing and speech recognition to a variety of devices and revolutionized the way people could interact with technology. In recent years, the assistant has been continuously developed and rolled out for more and more platforms.
"When we launched Google Assistant in 2016, users were able to receive Google support in a more natural way - thanks to natural language processing and speech recognition," Google said in an official message. Almost a decade later, however, the technology is in the middle of a fundamental change, driven by generative AI.
This development has caused Google to completely reorganize its strategy for digital assistants. While the Google Assistant was considered one of the most important Google products a few years ago, Gemini has now not only replaced it, but literally overwhelmed and exhausted it.
The gradual withdrawal of the assistant
Since the beginning of 2025, it has become apparent that the Google Assistant was pushed back on many platforms. Functionality in particular was increasingly reduced or transferred to Gemini. Brian Marquardt, Senior Director of Product Management for the Gemini app on Google, said: “Later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices and will no longer be available for new downloads in the app stores.”
This development is not a spontaneous step, but follows a long -term strategy. Google had already started to gradually transfer many of the functions that were previously taken over by the Assistant to Gemini.
Gemini: The new AI supported assistant
Gemini is Google's answer to technological advances in the field of artificial intelligence. Unlike his predecessor, Gemini is based on advanced voice models and generative AI, which gives him significantly more skills.
What does Gemini do?
Google describes Gemini as "a new kind of AI assistant, which was built up from scratch with advanced understanding and reason". In direct comparison tests, Google has found that people with Gemini are more successful because it is better able to understand natural language.
Gemini's skills go far beyond that of the Google Assistant. Special functions such as “Gemini Live” for natural, multimodal conversations and “Deep Research”, which Gemini turns into a personal research assistant, are only possible with the new AI technology. These tools enable a much more complex and natural interaction than it was ever possible with the Google Assistant.
Availability and implementation
Since its introduction, Google has continuously expanded access to the Gemini app. It is now available in over 40 languages and more than 200 countries. At the same time, the company is working on improving the quality of the daily Gemini experience, especially for those users who have previously been heavily dependent on the Google Assistant.
The transition: schedule and affected devices
The migration from Google Assistant to Gemini affects almost all platforms on which the assistant was previously available. Google has already presented a rough schedule for this transition.
Mobile devices as the first priority
In the coming months, Google will switch more and more users from Google Assistant to Gemini. This affects not only smartphones, but also:
- Tablets
- Cars and Android Auto
- headphones
- Smartwatches
- Other devices connected to the smartphone
For Android Auto, a corresponding update has already been presented, which Gemini implemented as a central voice assistant and offers a new surface.
Follow smart home devices
Google also plans a complete changeover to Gemini for smart home devices. This includes:
- Smart speaker
- Smart displays
- TV with Google TV
- More smart home devices
Google wants to announce the exact details of this change in the coming months. Until then, the Google Assistant will continue to work on these devices.
Exceptions for older devices
However, there are exceptions for devices that do not meet the technical requirements for Gemini. The Google Assistant will continue to be available on smartphones with Android 9 or older versions and on devices with fewer than two gigabytes of RAM.
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Differences and challenges
The change from Google Assistant to Gemini brings with it both advantages and potential challenges.
New possibilities through AI
Gemini offers numerous new possibilities through his advanced AI technology:
- Deeper understanding of understanding for natural language
- More context -conscious answers
- Better integration with various apps and services
- More advanced multimodality (processing of different input forms)
Google promises that Gemini should increase the productivity and creativity of the users and at the same time arouse their curiosity.
Possible disadvantages and concerns
However, there are also concerns about this change:
- Consistency with everyday tasks: There are reports that even simple functions such as setting timers and alarms with Gemini sometimes work less well than with the Google Assistant.
- Speed: Since Gemini is based on more complex AI models, simple inquiries can take longer in some cases than the Google Assistant.
- Data processing and storage: Gemini's extended skills also go hand in hand with concerns about data protection.
- No choice: Users have no choice between the classic assistant and Gemini - the changeover is inevitable.
New activation word?
Interestingly, there is indications that Google may also change the activation word. In new marketing videos, Google already uses “Hey Gemini” instead of “Hey Google” to activate the assistant.
However, it is unclear whether “Hey Google” will completely disappear. Both activation words may exist in parallel to address various assistant functions.
The new Ki era on Google
With the replacement of Google Assistant by Gemini, Google takes a significant step in its AI strategy. The changeover reflects the basic change that generative AI triggered in the technology industry.
Migration will be carried out on all platforms in the course of 2025, with mobile devices starting. For the users, this means a change, but also access to more powerful AI functions.
While Google puts the extended skills of Gemini in the foreground, it remains to be seen whether the new assistant can meet expectations and completely close the gap that the classic assistant leaves. Especially for long -time users of the Google Assistant, the consistency and reliability will be decisive factors for acceptance in everyday tasks.
The future of digital assistants on Google clearly belongs to Gemini, and the era of Google Assistant is coming to an end. Whether this will ultimately be progress or a loss for the users will be shown in the coming months.
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