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.
Amazon Launches AI Shopping Assistant for Retailers Including Kate Spade
Amazon is extending its AI shopping capabilities to external retailers via a new Agentic Shopping Assistant built on AWS, with Kate Spade among the initial brands to adopt it.This service enables retailers to create AI shopping assistants for their o
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Dunigan O’Keeffe, Partner in Bain & Company’s Strategy & Transformation practice and lead author of the report. Credit: Bain & CompanyBain & Company Partner Dunigan O’Keeffe explores the US$4.7tn AI profit shift across four sector clusters and explai
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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 !





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