Google Delays Gemini’s Full Takeover of Android Phones Until 2026
Google has officially confirmed a significant shift in its artificial intelligence strategy for mobile devices. The company announced that the complete retirement of Google Assistant has been postponed and will not happen as originally planned this year.
Instead of a full transition by the end of 2025, the migration process is now scheduled to extend into 2026. This decision effectively cancels the aggressive timeline that the tech giant had previously promoted to unify its AI services.
Earlier this year, the plan was to have Gemini entirely replace the legacy digital assistant on Android smartphones and tablets by December. The goal was to offer users a single system with deeper context understanding and better integration across Google services.
However, as the year progressed, it became clear that a complete switch might be premature. In a new statement, Google noted that they are adjusting the schedule to ensure the conversion process runs smoothly for all users.
This delay provides a reprieve for those who still rely on the classic Google Assistant for their daily tasks. Users will now have a longer transition period to adapt to the new interface without being forced to switch immediately.
Industry analysts suspect the slowdown is likely due to technical challenges regarding stability and compatibility. There is also a strong possibility that Google wants to give its user base more time to adjust to the new technology to avoid dissatisfaction.
It is important to note that this specific delay applies primarily to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Other platforms, such as Android Auto, are still following their own migration paths, with changes expected to finalize around March 2026.
For the immediate future, both assistants will coexist within the Android ecosystem. While Gemini remains the clear future for the company, the path to getting there will be much more gradual than initially expected.
We would love to hear if you prefer sticking with the classic Assistant or if you are eager to switch to Gemini, so please let us know your thoughts in the comments.
