Google’s plan to replace the old Google Assistant with its smarter AI successor, Gemini, has been delayed. While the transition is still happening, it will no longer be completed this year as originally planned.
Instead, Google confirmed that the rollout will continue into 2026, meaning users will have more time with the current Assistant while Google works out issues with Gemini.
Earlier this year, Google announced a major change in how we interact with our smartphones. The goal was to move from a simple voice assistant that follows commands to an AI that can think, understand context deeply, and interact naturally. The original plan was for Gemini to quickly replace the old Assistant on new Android phones and app stores within months.
However, Gemini is much more than just a new name. Google sees it as a big shift toward a personalized AI helper that can hold natural conversations and work with other apps on your phone. Gemini uses the latest generative AI technology, offering features like free-flowing chats in Gemini Live and the ability to provide detailed, researched answers, which are capabilities the old Assistant lacked.
Despite these exciting features and some early releases, Google is slowing down the rollout. They want the switch to be truly smooth before retiring the old Assistant completely.
A quiet update on Google’s support pages revealed that moving mobile users to Gemini will now take place throughout 2026, with other platforms like cars likely following a similar slower timeline.
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