Google Assistant Is Gone — Gemini Now Handles "Find Me a Plumber" on 3.3 Billion Devices
What happened
Google has officially retired Google Assistant on mobile devices, replacing it with Gemini across Android phones, tablets, Wear OS smartwatches, headphones, and Android Auto. The rollout began on 4 September and is reaching all users over several weeks.
Once the update hits, there is no way to switch back to Google Assistant. The old voice assistant is gone for good on mobile.
Google says the shift is powered by newer Gemini models — including Gemini 2.6 Flash and Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite — which deliver faster, more conversational responses across a wider range of devices.
What this means for tradespeople
This matters more than it sounds. 58% of consumers already use voice search to find local businesses, and that number is expected to climb now that Gemini handles those queries on 3.3 billion Android devices worldwide.
Here's the critical difference: Google Assistant used to pull up a list of search results and let the customer scroll through options. Gemini works differently — it synthesises information from your Google Business Profile, your reviews, your website, and third-party sources, then recommends one name.
If you're a plumber, electrician, or roofer, that means when a homeowner says "find me a plumber near me," Gemini doesn't show ten options. It picks one. And the businesses Gemini recommends are the ones with strong, recent reviews, complete Business Profiles, and consistent information across the web.
What to do about it
- Make sure your Google Business Profile is fully completed — Gemini pulls directly from your profile data, services list, and business description to generate its recommendations
- Keep reviews coming in consistently — Gemini weighs recent, detailed reviews heavily when choosing which business to recommend. A steady flow of genuine reviews from real customers is now more important than ever
- Check your website content — Gemini also reads your website. Make sure it clearly states what you do, where you work, and what customers say about you
Source: BusinessToday