Google is starting to phase out the good old Google Assistant from Wear OS. The company updated the app on the Google Play Store to version 1.18.x, and even though there are no huge changes to the functionalities, there's a rebranding going on, 9to5Google reports.
First, Google has apparently renamed two complications on the app. The shortcut that allows you to launch voice input directly from the watch face is now called "Google" and operated by "Digital Assistant" and not "Google Assistant," as was the case previously.
There's a silent rebranding going on | Image by 9to5Google
There has been a change of the logo as well; it now shows some kind of sparkles, which are different from the Gemini logo (three blue sparkles). The same generic sparkles can also be found on Wear OS Tile, and they let you save and launch quick commands on tap.
The second change concerns "At a Glance." This feature was previously offered by Google Assistant, but now it says "by At a Glance," and the logo has been swapped with Google's big "G."
There's also a new logo with some generic sparkle, resembling Gemini's logo | Image by 9to5Google
You can still find Assistant down the list, but it's clear that Google is slowly but surely erasing its traces and preparing the ground for the upcoming Gemini swap. There's no timeline or deadline for the transition, but when it happens, all Google Assistant traces will be erased.
One thing that's certain is that Google will keep features such as "At a Glance" and "Tiles" even when Gemini takes over. It remains to be seen how useful Gemini will be on Wear OS, as Google Assistant didn't prove to be much of a help and people rarely used it.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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