Gemini to take over from Google Assistant on Android phones in late 2025
More than a year after its debut and several updates, Gemini is ready to step in for Google Assistant on Android phones by late 2025. This change comes after recent model upgrades and the rollout of Deep Research to everyone.
Google shared today that the “old-school Google Assistant will soon disappear from most phones.” This shift will happen “later this year,” and users will get a clear heads-up with an exact date. In the next few months, people still using Assistant will notice a pop-up encouraging them to switch.
There’s a small catch: phones running Android 9 or older with less than 2 GB of RAM won’t switch. Those devices will keep the current Assistant setup. This move follows new Android phones—like Pixel, Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola—rolling out over the past year with Gemini as the go-to helper. Google says “tons of users have already jumped on board.”
When Gemini first arrived in February 2024, it didn’t have all the phone assistant tricks up its sleeve, so Google made it easy to switch back to Assistant. Since then, the Gemini app has added handy features, like working from the lock screen and managing phone tasks with a Utilities option.
Before saying goodbye to Assistant, Google is “working hard to make Gemini better every day, especially for fans of the classic Assistant experience.” Looking back, Google pointed out how Assistant’s voice and language tech, launched in 2016, made getting help feel more natural. Now, almost ten years later, generative AI is shaking things up again, changing how we use gadgets.
Today, Google shared its big plans for Gemini, including video and screen-sharing features powered by Astra, coming this month. They said, “We want an assistant that feels personal, knows what’s happening around you, works with your apps, and helps you get more done while sparking your creativity and curiosity.”
Plus, Gemini is expanding to watches, cars, tablets, and headphones. It’s already on Pixel Buds and showing up on Wear OS. Google also teased a “fresh Gemini-powered experience” for speakers, displays, and TVs, with more news soon. It’s being tested on Nest Mini and Audio, and TVs got a sneak peek in January.
Google has just rolled out Android 16 Beta 3.2, a small update that fixes some bugs and boosts performance for testers. This version comes after Beta 3, focusing on making the system smoother and more reliable. It’s part of Google’s plan to get Android 16 ready for everyone later this year.
This update tackles a few annoying issues. It fixes a glitch that made notifications act weird, like not showing up right or disappearing too fast. It also solves a problem where apps would crash when trying to open certain files. Plus, it improves how the battery lasts by tweaking how apps use power in the background.
For people testing this beta on Pixel phones, the update is easy to grab. Just head to the settings, check for updates, and download it. It’s about 500 MB, so it won’t take long. Google says this is one of the last beta versions before the big launch, so it’s a good chance to see what’s coming. Android 16 is shaping up to be faster and more user-friendly. With these fixes, Google is working hard to make sure it runs great when it finally arrives!
Google is rolling out some cool changes to its apps! First, Google Keep now lets you turn your handwritten notes into text. Just scribble your thoughts, and the app will type them out for you—super handy for quick ideas or lists. It’s simple and saves time!
Next, Google Discover is adding a fun “Space” section. This new feature shows a slideshow of space-related stuff, like planets and stars, right on your home screen. If you love learning about the universe, this makes it easy to stay curious and explore more.
Finally, the Gemini app is getting a big upgrade with Google Photos. Now, you can ask it to find specific pictures—like “my beach trip last summer”—and it’ll dig through your photo collection to show them. It’s like having a smart helper to sort your memories!
These updates make Google apps more helpful and fun. Whether you’re jotting down notes, gazing at the stars, or finding old photos, Google’s got you covered with tools that feel easy and natural to use. What do you think—ready to try them out?
Waze, the popular navigation app, just got a fresh update for Android users. With version 5.5.0.1, it now supports themed icons. This means if you’ve turned on themed icons in your Android settings, Waze’s logo will match your phone’s color style, moving away from its usual blue look.
It’s a small change, but it makes your home screen look nicer. The update doesn’t seem to add much else, focusing only on this visual tweak. Meanwhile, Google’s NotebookLM has a cool new feature called “Discover Sources.”
This tool helps you find useful web links for your research. When you click the “Discover” button in the Sources section, you can type what you’re curious about. NotebookLM then finds up to 10 relevant websites, each with a summary explaining why it fits your topic. You can pick the ones you like and add them to your project. It’s perfect for students or anyone digging into a subject. This update is rolling out soon to all users, making research simpler and faster.
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