Google Prepares to Replace Android's Assistant with Gemini AI

Android users stand to gain enhanced functionality from Gemini while maintaining better privacy controls. According to an email obtained by *Android Police*, Google plans to launch an update on July 7th that will enable Gemini to interact with core device features - including Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities - regardless of whether Gemini Apps Activity tracking is enabled.
Previously, disabling Gemini Apps Activity protection created limitations - while it prevented chat data from being used to refine Google's AI products, it also blocked Gemini from performing practical functions like managing alarms, initiating calls, sending WhatsApp messages, or adjusting media controls.
Initial concerns arose from ambiguous phrasing in Google's announcement, prompting questions about potential privacy implications. The company swiftly clarified through *Android Authority* that users retain full control over these app permissions and can revoke access whenever preferred.
"This enhancement allows Android users to leverage Gemini for routine tasks - messaging, calling, setting reminders - without compromising their privacy preferences," Google explained. "When Gemini Apps Activity is disabled, conversations won't be analyzed or contribute to AI model training."
The upgrade arrives as Google prepares to phase out its longstanding Assistant in favor of Gemini across Android devices. While disabled activity settings will prevent interactions from appearing in logs, Google maintains conversation data will still be temporarily stored (for up to 72 hours) exclusively for security monitoring purposes.
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Comments (1)
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Ça fait un peu peur, ce remplacement de l'Assistant par Gemini. On nous promet plus de fonctionnalités et une meilleure confidentialité, mais je me demande si ce n'est pas juste pour nous pousser encore plus dans l'écosystème Google 🤔. Ça va être compliqué pour les concurrents, Alexa et Siri vont devoir se réveiller !

Android users stand to gain enhanced functionality from Gemini while maintaining better privacy controls. According to an email obtained by *Android Police*, Google plans to launch an update on July 7th that will enable Gemini to interact with core device features - including Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities - regardless of whether Gemini Apps Activity tracking is enabled.
Previously, disabling Gemini Apps Activity protection created limitations - while it prevented chat data from being used to refine Google's AI products, it also blocked Gemini from performing practical functions like managing alarms, initiating calls, sending WhatsApp messages, or adjusting media controls.
Initial concerns arose from ambiguous phrasing in Google's announcement, prompting questions about potential privacy implications. The company swiftly clarified through *Android Authority* that users retain full control over these app permissions and can revoke access whenever preferred.
"This enhancement allows Android users to leverage Gemini for routine tasks - messaging, calling, setting reminders - without compromising their privacy preferences," Google explained. "When Gemini Apps Activity is disabled, conversations won't be analyzed or contribute to AI model training."
The upgrade arrives as Google prepares to phase out its longstanding Assistant in favor of Gemini across Android devices. While disabled activity settings will prevent interactions from appearing in logs, Google maintains conversation data will still be temporarily stored (for up to 72 hours) exclusively for security monitoring purposes.
Google rolls out Gemini in Chrome to India
On Wednesday, Google announced it is expanding Gemini integration for Chrome to new regions, including India, Canada, and New Zealand. This rollout allows desktop users to access Gemini via a sidebar, where they can ask Google’s AI chatbot about on-s
Barry Diller: Trust in Sam Altman irrelevant as AGI nears
Barry Diller, the billionaire media titan, does not believe OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is untrustworthy, despite recent reports suggesting otherwise. Speaking at the Wall Street Journal's "Future of Everything" conference this week, Diller defended Altman
Ça fait un peu peur, ce remplacement de l'Assistant par Gemini. On nous promet plus de fonctionnalités et une meilleure confidentialité, mais je me demande si ce n'est pas juste pour nous pousser encore plus dans l'écosystème Google 🤔. Ça va être compliqué pour les concurrents, Alexa et Siri vont devoir se réveiller !





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