Google Assistant to be shut off on phones and tablets from September 4

Google has announced that it is winding down Google Assistant on smartphones and tablets running Android, as well as on paired devices — smartwatches, headphones and headsets. The shutoff will begin on September 4 and, according to the company, rolling the change out to all users could take several weeks.

The news came from a letter that appears to have been sent to a portion of users. It was spotted by journalists at 9to5Google, and the full text was published on Reddit. The Verge reached out to Google to confirm the letter's authenticity and promises to update the story once it hears back.

“We'll begin removing access to Google Assistant on September 4,” the letter reads, “and we expect this process may take several weeks before it reaches everyone. Once availability has been removed, you will no longer be able to use Google Assistant or switch back to it on your phone, tablet or paired devices.”

Gemini only

If Gemini is available in your region and your device meets the minimum requirements, the AI assistant will be the only assistant left. Paired devices will lose access to Assistant too: Wear OS watches, headphones and earbuds, as well as cars with Android Auto. An exception has been made for now for vehicles with Google built-in — there, Assistant stays.

Today's announcement apparently does not affect Google Home and Google TV devices, so Assistant will live on past September in those products.

Time's up on the reprieve

Google had already planned to retire Assistant on “most mobile devices” back in 2025, but the shutoff was pushed back. Now the reprieve is over, and all that's left for the voice assistant is to take its place in the graveyard of discontinued Google products — alongside Stadia, Pixel Studio and dozens of other services.

Source: The Verge