Overview
- Google’s Android Auto support page now states Assistant will work only until March 2026, and the company confirmed that timeline is specific to Android Auto.
- Gemini began a staged rollout to Android Auto on November 20 and will expand over the coming months as users are moved off Assistant in cars.
- Across Android, code in the latest Google app (v16.46.61) and updates to the Gemini app show Assistant labels being replaced, including renaming “Hey Google & Voice Match” to “Talk to Gemini hands-free.”
- The familiar “Hey Google” wake word and Voice Match setup remain, but UI text and settings increasingly reference Gemini instead of Google Assistant.
- Device support will vary: Gemini generally requires Android 10 and about 2GB of RAM, so some older or lower-spec hardware may continue running Assistant longer.