Washington, US: Google is set to begin phasing out its Google Assistant service from September 4, marking a major transition as the company moves users towards Gemini as its next-generation assistant experience.
The shutdown will begin rolling out from that date, but Google said the change "may take a few weeks" to reach everyone who is still using Google Assistant, according to GSM Arena.
The change will affect Google Assistant users across Android and Wear OS devices. It will also impact headphones that rely on a phone's Google Assistant functionality and vehicles running Android Auto, where the assistant experience is primarily powered through connected phones.
However, Google Assistant will continue to function on certain platforms. Cars equipped with Google built-in, also known as vehicles running Android Automotive, will retain Google Assistant support after 4 September.
The service also appears to remain available on Google TV devices and Google Home speakers and smart displays.
The move comes as Google shifts its focus towards Gemini, its newer artificial intelligence-powered assistant platform. The company has been transitioning users from Google Assistant to Gemini as it aims to provide a more advanced assistant experience across devices.
Google said it was focused on ensuring users experienced a smooth changeover during the transition.
The company stated that it was committed to "providing a smooth transition" and added that it was confident "Gemini will offer you an even more capable and helpful assistant experience".
The shutdown represents a significant change for users who have relied on Google Assistant for voice-based tasks, device controls and other assistant features across Android-powered products.
With the transition, Google is positioning Gemini as the primary assistant experience for supported devices going forward.
While Google Assistant will no longer be available across several major platforms after the rollout begins, some products, including vehicles with Google built-in, Google TV, and Google Home speakers and smart displays, will continue to support the service for now.
As the shutdown progresses over the coming weeks, users may see changes in how they access voice assistant features on their devices, depending on the platform they use.
