The replacement of Google Assistant with Gemini on Android devices is already underway. The first traces of this change are now appearing on some smartwatches. A discreet but revealing evolution of a broader shift.
For several months, Google has been preparing behind the scenes a complete overhaul of its voice assistant. The new artificial intelligence Gemini is set to replace Google Assistant on all devices. Smartphones, cars, speakers, and tablets are affected. This transition, already underway on Android Auto, is now beginning to appear on smartwatches running Wear OS. The goal is to unify all voice interactions around a more modern and efficient assistant.
Users have noticed the appearance of the Gemini logo instead of the Google Assistant logo on certain watches like the Galaxy Watch7 or the OnePlus Watch 2. When you trigger the voice assistant, a new loading screen is briefly displayed, with the AI symbol. The name of the application has also changed: it is now indicated as “Digital Assistant” in the settings. The latter replaces Google Assistant in the list of default assistants, which shows that the change is already well underway, even if the old assistant remains active in the background.
Google is quietly preparing the full arrival of Gemini on Wear OS watches
For now, the responses and features remain identical to those of Google Assistant. Gemini isn't fully operational on watches yet, but Google is starting to integrate its visual elements into the interface. This transformation is visible with version 1.18.175 of the app on Wear OS. Older versions, like 1.16, show no changes. This is therefore a gradual rollout, intended to accustom users to this new identity before the AI assistant is actually active.
During his last intervention, the CEO of Google confirmed that Gemini would soon be present on all devices, including headphones, tablets and smartwatches. The company wants to offer a unique artificial intelligence, capable of understanding complex requests and adapting to each device. By gradually modifying the interface of its applications, the brand is preparing for this evolution without rushing users. In a few months, Google Assistant should completely give way to AI on Wear OS, marking the end of an era for this historic voice assistant.
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