Google Assistant is evolving into Gemini, bringing powerful new AI capabilities but also discontinuing some favorite features. If you use Google Assistant to set timers, play music or control your smart home, get ready for some significant disruptions as the company begins replacing the nine-year-old assistant with its newer, more powerful, AI-powered Gemini chatbot. This article will outline the key changes you can expect, helping you prepare for the transition and understand what will be different.
March 22 update below, with tips on working around some of Google Assistant’s discontinued features. This article was originally published on March 20
Google Gemini: An Inevitable Upgrade
Gemini represents a giant leap forward in capability compared to Google Assistant. You’ll be able to chat with Gemini in a similar way to how you talk to Google Assistant now, but as it’s based on AI-powered large language models (LLMs), Gemini can be much more conversational and helpful, able to perform more challenging tasks, and able to tailor its responses specifically to you.
Google has already begun the transition to Gemini. Smartphones are the first to switch and will be followed by smart speakers, TVs, other home devices, wearables, and cars in the coming months.
Smartphones, with a few important exceptions (see below), will have moved over to Gemini entirely by the end of 2025 at which point, “the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores,” according to Google.
But Not Always A Seamless Transition
Unfortunately, the transition to Gemini won’t be seamless for everyone. If you currently make extensive use of Google Assistant, it may take a little effort to adapt to Gemini. Some users will need to make significant adjustments in how they use their devices, as certain features of Google Assistant won’t work the same way with Gemini — if they work at all. It’s important to understand these changes if you want to avoid disruption.
Several Google Assistant Features Discontinued
Google has a track record of removing features it considers “underused” by customers. Since last year, it has removed 22 Google Assistant features.
Notable removals include cookbook/recipe functions and media alarms that let you wake up to your favorite music. While not all of these discontinuations can be blamed on the transition to Gemini, making the switch will cause some functionality to disappear immediately.
Recently, Interpreter mode for live translations and Family Bell announcements for setting personalized reminders were both discontinued to the dismay of many frequent users. The list of discontinued features goes on, and users are not happy.
You can read the complete list of discontinued and changed features in this Google support document.
Google also acknowledges that to begin with, Gemini may be slower to respond to requests than Google Assistant, although it is expected to get faster over time.
However, because it’s built upon AI, Gemini, unlike Google Assistant, can sometimes provide false information or “hallucinations.” Users will have to get used to checking any information Gemini provides in a way that wasn’t so critical with Google Assistant.
Gemini tries to understand your requests and respond appropriately rather than simply following a list of programmed commands. This makes it considerably more powerful but also slightly unpredictable.
Features Are Being Removed Before They Are Replaced
Fortunately, Gemini is so much more powerful than Google Assistant that users will eventually gain many more capabilities than they lose. Gemini will likely be able to restore much of the removed functionality eventually. However, not all of Google Assistant’s features currently have an alternative that works with Gemini.
Can My Device Use Gemini?
Not all devices are compatible with Gemini, and you’ll need to be located in one of the countries where Gemini is available. If your device doesn’t meet the criteria below, then you can continue to use Google Assistant for now.
For phones and tablets, you’ll need:
- Minimum 2GB RAM
- Android 10, iOS 16 or higher.
- Android Go devices aren’t supported
Google Assistant Becomes Gemini: Smart Speakers, Smart Displays And TVs Are Next
For now, Google Assistant will continue to work on devices, such as smart speakers, smart displays and TVs, but that will change over the coming months. The rollout will eventually extend to tablets, cars, headphones and watches, provided they meet the minimum specs.
Some other older devices may also not be powerful enough to run Gemini, although no specific requirements have been given at this time. If your device is too old to support Gemini, you’ll still be able to use Google Assistant as long as Google continues to support it.
For details about the transition to Gemini and what Gemini can do for you, see Google’s introduction to Gemini.
March 22 Update. Here are some workarounds for some of the most popular features being removed from Google Assistant as Google transitions to Gemini.
Interpreter Mode
While it adeptly translates words, phrases and complete documents, Gemini currently does not directly replace Google Assistant’s live translation Interpreter Mode function. This means smart speakers and other devices will no longer be able to translate conversations in real-time.
The best Google alternative is to switch to the Google Translate app, which offers a similar “Conversation Mode” function. However, it is primarily for mobile devices and doesn’t offer the same hand-free, voice-activated experience as a smart speaker or smart display.
If a hands-free Interpreter Mode on a smart speaker is vitally important to you, you could always buy an Amazon device and use Alexa’s Live Translation function instead.
Check Google’s help pages for possible updates regarding Interpreter Mode.
Google Photos Voice Commands, Photo Frame Settings And Ambient Screen Settings
Sadly, you’ll no longer be able to use your voice to favorite and share your photos or ask when and where they were taken. However, you will be able to use the Google Photos app to perform these functions manually.
It’s a similar situation for Photo Frame Settings and Ambient Screen Settings. You will now have to adjust these manually by tapping the settings options on your display.
The loss of voice control will be a blow to anyone who relies on voice control for accessibility. Hopefully, Gemini will eventually be able to perform a similar function, but for now, if you can’t use the touchscreen, you’ll have to look to other accessibility options.
Learn How To Use Google Home Routines
Some of the Google Assistant features Google has removed, such as Family Bell, can be approximated using Google Routines. However, the setup process will be more complicated than before. The same goes for creating automatic daily updates. Google provides help for creating routines on its support pages, but be prepared to invest some time learning how to set them up.
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