Google Phases Out Google Assistant in Favor of New AI-Powered Assistant, Gemini
In a significant shift in its digital assistant strategy, Google has announced that it will begin phasing out its Google Assistant, replacing it with its newly developed AI-powered assistant, Gemini. The tech giant shared the news in a recent blog post, highlighting the transformative impact of generative AI on user interactions with technology.
The transition to Gemini is expected to unfold over the next several months, with the objective of improving user experience through advanced generative AI capabilities. “In the coming months, we’re upgrading more users on mobile devices from Google Assistant to Gemini; later this year, classic Google Assistant will become inaccessible on most mobile devices and will no longer be available for new downloads from app stores,” the company explained.
What Changes to Expect?
Google considers AI-driven enhancements to be the future of digital assistants, aiming to make them even more effective.
- Millions of users have already successfully transitioned to Gemini, and the company notes positive feedback regarding the assistant’s AI features.
- The gradual shift will first target mobile users, with plans to later encompass other devices.
- “We believe an assistant should be personal to you and attuned to the surrounding world. It should facilitate interaction with apps and services that you already utilize, promoting productivity, creativity, and curiosity,” the company stated.
Nearly ten years after the original launch of Google Assistant, Google is poised to embrace a new era where generative AI fundamentally changes the way users engage with technology. Plans are also underway to introduce a Gemini-powered experience for home devices, with further details expected in the upcoming months. For the time being, Google Assistant will still be operational on these devices.
- Google intends to expand Gemini’s reach to include tablets, cars, headphones, smartwatches, and additional connected gadgets.
- A new AI-infused experience tailored for home devices like smart speakers, displays, and televisions is also in the works. “We’re eager to share more details about this upcoming experience in the next few months; until then, Google Assistant will continue to function on these devices,” the company assured users.
Important Information for Users
Reports indicate that older Android phones running Android 9 or earlier, along with devices that have less than 2GB of RAM, will not be obliged to switch to Gemini. Instead, these devices will retain access to the classic Google Assistant, even as it is phased out for the majority of users. This decision suggests that Google is not completely discontinuing Assistant on these lower-end devices, likely due to their limited capability to support Gemini’s advanced AI features.
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