Google Assistant was a virtual assistant software application developed by Google, primarily available on home automation and mobile devices. Based on Artificial intelligence, Google Assistant could engage in two-way conversations, unlike the company's previous virtual assistant, Google Now. Users primarily interacted with it through natural voice, though keyboard input was also supported, enabling functions such as answering questions, scheduling events, adjusting device settings, and showing information from the user's Google account.
The assistant debuted in 2016 as part of Google's messaging app Allo and its voice-activated speaker Google Nest. After a period of exclusivity on Google Pixel smartphones, it was deployed on other Android devices starting in February 2017, including third-party smartphones and Android Wear (now Wear OS), and released as a standalone app on iOS in May 2017. By 2020, Google Assistant was available on more than 1 billion devices, and it supported over 90 countries and 30 languages, with more than 500 million monthly users.
History
Google Assistant was unveiled during Google's developer conference on May 18, 2016, alongside the Google Nest smart speaker and messaging app Allo. Google CEO Sundar Pichai described the Assistant as a conversational, two-way experience and "an ambient experience that extends across devices." Later that month, Google assigned Google Doodle leader Ryan Germick and hired former Pixar animator Emma Coats to develop "a little more of a personality" for the assistant.
For system-level integration outside of Allo and Google Nest, the Assistant was initially exclusive to Google Pixel smartphones. In February 2017, Google began enabling access on Android smartphones running Android 6.0.1 or 7.0 in select English-speaking markets. Android tablets did not receive the Assistant in this rollout. The assistant was integrated into Wear OS 2.0 and planned for Android TV and Android Auto. In October 2017, the Google Pixelbook became the first laptop to include Google Assistant, and it later came to Google Pixel Buds. In December 2017, Google announced the Assistant would be released for phones running Android 5.0 via an update to Google Play Services, as well as tablets running Android 6.0 and 7.0. In February 2019, Google reportedly began testing ads in Assistant results.
On May 15, 2017, Android Police reported that Google Assistant would come to iOS as a separate app, confirmed two days later at Google's developer conference.
Smart Displays and Developer Support
In January 2018 at the Consumer Electronics Show, the first Assistant-powered "smart displays" were announced from Lenovo, Sony, JBL, and LG. These devices supported Google Duo video calls, YouTube videos, Google Maps directions, Google Calendar agendas, and viewing of smart camera footage. They were based on Android Things and Google-developed software. Google unveiled its own smart display, Google Nest Hub, in October 2018, followed by Google Nest Hub Max.
In December 2016, Google launched "Actions on Google," a developer platform for building apps for the Assistant. In March 2017, new tools were added to support game creation. Originally limited to Google Nest, Actions on Google was made available to Android and iOS devices in May 2017, with an app directory introduced. To incentivize developers, Google announced a competition with prizes including tickets to Google's 2018 developer conference and cash awards of $10,000, $7,500, and $5,000.
In April 2017, a software development kit (SDK) was released, allowing third-party hardware to run the Assistant. It was integrated into Raspberry Pi, cars from Audi and Volvo, and home automation appliances from companies like iRobot, LG, General Electric, and D-Link. The SDK was updated in December 2017 to add features such as third-party commands, text-based interactions, and precise geographic location settings.
Discontinuation
In October 2023, a mobile version of the Gemini chatbot, originally titled Assistant with Bard and simply Bard, was unveiled during the Pixel 8 event. It was set to replace Assistant as the main assistant on Android devices, although the original Assistant remained optional. The chatbot was released on February 8, 2024, in the United States.
On March 14, 2025, it was announced that Assistant would stop working on Android devices using Android 9 and higher, iOS, and other devices such as Google Nest, being mostly replaced by Gemini. Assistant remained available for low-range phones, phones running Android 8.1 "Oreo" and lower, and devices running Android Go. In August 2026, Google announced that Assistant would be discontinued on September 4, 2026, encouraging users to switch to Gemini.
Legacy
Google Assistant represented a significant shift in Machine learning applications for consumer devices, moving from single-query responses to continuous, context-aware dialogue. Its development drew on advances in Deep learning and Neural network architectures, which underpinned its natural language understanding. The assistant's integration across diverse platforms - from smartphones to smart home appliances - set a precedent for ambient computing, influencing subsequent virtual assistants and contributing to the broader field of Generative AI. Its eventual replacement by Gemini highlighted the rapid evolution of Large language model technologies in the late 2020s.