Google’s no longer going to force everyone off Assistant by the end of the year

Google's decision to no longer force everyone off Assistant by the end of the year, instead continuing the transition to Gemini into 2026, marks a significant shift in the company's approach to its virtual assistant technology. This means that website owners can expect a more gradual change in how users interact with their sites through voice assistants, rather than a abrupt switch that may have caused disruptions to their AI-powered traffic. With the extended timeline, website owners can better prepare for the eventual transition to Gemini, ensuring a smoother experience for their users who rely on Google Assistant for accessing their content. To prepare for this transition, website owners should review their AI bot tracking to account for potential changes in Gemini's interaction patterns. They should also update their llms.txt files to reflect the evolving capabilities of Gemini, ensuring that their site's content policies are aligned with the new virtual assistant's features. Additionally, website owners can use this extended timeline to test and optimize their site's compatibility with Gemini, mitigating any potential issues that may arise during the transition.