Why I think Google delaying Assistant’s retirement is embarrassing — and unsurprising
I’m not fooled by Google’s PR line about making the Assistant→Gemini switch “seamless.” Delaying the transition into 2026 tells me they shipped features before they honestly tested them across the wildly fragmented Android ecosystem. That’s product theater, not engineering rigor.
Gemini on Pixel already exists, sure — but rolling a new assistant into millions of different phones is the kind of operational headache most companies only admit after a mess. I expected friction; the only surprise is that Google sounded so confident about a 2025 cutoff in the first place.
- What Google announced: The Assistant→Gemini upgrade timeline is being pushed past 2025 so the company can “ensure a seamless transition.”
- Device requirements: Upgrades need Android 10 or newer and at least 2GB of RAM — that rules out low‑end devices and older phones.
- What’s at stake: Smart device control, cross‑device assistant behaviors and a unified AI experience that Google promises but clearly hasn’t nailed everywhere.
I’m skeptical Google can make Gemini behave the same across cheap Android handsets, old tablets and wearables with tiny RAM footprints. The mismatch between marketing and reality is exactly why users see half‑baked AI features that turn into privacy or performance headaches.
Yes, I want better AI on my phone. I also want companies to ship responsibly. If Google needed more time, fine — but don’t parade a deadline you can’t keep and then call the delay “seamless transition” in the same breath.
My Verdict: Google rushed a headline and is now cleaning up the mess. I’ll believe a “seamless” AI takeover when my cheap phone doesn’t choke on it. Are you willing to be a guinea pig for corporate AI timelines?