Gemini is taking the place of Google Assistant. What impact will this change have on you?

      The transition away from Google Assistant has been anticipated for some time, and it is now confirmed. Google has announced that it will transition users to Gemini as the primary AI assistant on their devices in the coming months. After this shift, access to Google Assistant will no longer be available.

      Currently, users can still opt for Google Assistant as the default on their Android phones, even on newer models that come pre-installed with Gemini. Alongside phones, Google will also apply this change to smartwatches, Android Auto, tablets, smart home devices, TVs, and audio equipment.

      “We’re also introducing a new experience powered by Gemini for home devices like speakers, displays, and TVs,” states Google, although a specific timeline for this transition has not been provided. Following the shift, Google Assistant will be removed from devices and will no longer be available for download from app stores.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      Regarding apps, Gemini is already capable of interacting with numerous Google apps and a few third-party applications. Users can command it to perform tasks across various products without needing to manually open the apps. Aside from Google’s own applications like Docs, Drive, and Gmail, Gemini can also carry out functions in third-party apps such as WhatsApp and Spotify, as well as various Samsung applications.

      What devices are transitioning to Gemini?

      Gemini will support most of the features currently available with Google Assistant. Essential functions like controlling smart home devices, accessing the virtual assistant from the Lock Screen, routines, song detection, and messaging will be retained with Gemini.

      Digital Trends

      Many of these features have also been improved for Gemini to provide a superior experience. For instance, Gemini is better equipped to manage tasks like handling Reminders, events, and lists, addressing queries related to Google Maps or Google Drive, checking YouTube videos, and understanding on-screen context, among others.

      Here’s a broad list of device compatibility that will be updated to Gemini in the upcoming months:

      - Phones with at least 2 GB RAM.

      - Android 10 or later.

      - iPhones running iOS 16 or newer.

      The virtual assistant on headphones will align with the one currently used on your phone. The only exception will be budget Android Go phones, which provide a simplified Google experience; however, no new Android Go phones have been released in years, leading to Gemini’s absence on these devices.

      What changes come with Gemini?

      To start with the basics, there’s no need to worry about changes to the activation hotword. The "Hey Google" voice prompt will still be the way to activate Gemini, just as it was with Google Assistant. For devices that have not transitioned to Gemini, using the "Hey Google" command will still invoke the Google Assistant without any limitations on features.

      Google

      To ensure a smooth transition, particularly for user familiarity, Google will also transfer some user data from Google Assistant to Gemini. Provided users have granted the necessary permissions, Gemini will automatically gain access to specifics like calls and messaging history.

      “We will use some preferences and history from Google Assistant when we upgrade your device to Gemini,” Google mentions in a support document. Fortunately, users will not encounter any functional barriers. In the coming months, Gemini will also review your Search history to deliver more personalized responses. Eventually, it will also be able to interact with Photos.

      Why is this a better arrangement?

      Gemini represents a significant upgrade over Google Assistant, fundamentally altering the tech foundation. While Google Assistant was an AI product based on natural language understanding, Gemini excels as a natural language chatbot with capabilities for language understanding and reasoning.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      Unlike Google Assistant, Gemini functions more like an extensive knowledge base trained on a vast corpus of information and operates offline for many tasks. It can engage in conversational exchanges in multiple languages and excels in interpreting diverse input formats.

      For instance, you can upload a PDF file, and Gemini will analyze it for you. It is capable of processing pictures, text, audio, and even live video. This technical capability is referred to as multi-modal processing. Gemini can also generate images.

      Regarding comprehension abilities, Gemini can solve complex problems related to science, math, and coding—tasks that Google Assistant struggles with. In the coming months, through Project Astra, Gemini will also have the ability to recognize and understand the surrounding environment in real-time via camera input.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      Additionally, there are several features that far surpass what Google Assistant was capable of. For example, the newly available Deep Research tool can conduct extensive web research and compile comprehensive reports within minutes, a task that would typically take hours of searching and documentation.

      Moreover, there are Gems, which are essentially user-crafted versions of the Gemini assistant trained for specific tasks. Anyone can create Gems without needing coding skills, using only natural language instructions. So far, Gems and the Deep Research feature have been accessible only to paying subscribers, but Google made them available to all users for free in