What’s happening?
Starting on 4th September, Google is progressively replacing Google Assistant with Gemini AI on all devices that run on the Android operating system.
What is Google Assistant?
On various Android devices (phones and tablets, smart speakers, smartwatches and headphones) saying ‘Hey Google’ or ‘Okay Google’ activates Google Assistant. Your device listens for the trigger phrase, then converts your speech into text, interprets what you want and carries out your instruction.
(This is not necessarily the same as tapping a microphone icon, which starts voice to text dictation, not full Google Assistant.)
What is Gemini?
Gemini is an artificial intelligence model that can handle voice, text, camera, images, documents and screen inputs. Because it’s AI, Gemini allows you to give more complex and ambiguous instructions and have extended conversations.
Switching from Google Assistant to Gemini
You can switch from Google Assistant to Gemini yourself, rather than wait for the roll out.
- Open Settings on your phone
- Tap Google Services
- Tap All Services
- Tap Search, Assistant and Voice
- Tap Google Assistant
- Scroll down to Digital assistants from Google
- Select Gemini, then tap on Switch to confirm.
Settings for Gemini
If you have the Gemini app on your device, you can go into Gemini Settings to give Gemini access to selected apps.
- Open Gemini on your phone
- Tap on your profile icon
- Tap on Personal Intelligence
- Tap on Connected apps
- Toggle on or off the apps that you want to connect to Gemini (e.g. Photos, YouTube, Google Home).