Google to upgrade headphones, tablets, smartwatches with Gemini AI capabilities soon

Last week Google announced that it is planning to expand Gemini’s horizon beyond mobile – bringing it to devices such as tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and Android-powered in-car infotainment systems. Sundar Pichai made this announcement during the company’s 2025 Q1 earnings call.

The company is working towards replacing the dated Google Assistant with Gemini on mobile phones currently, and its focus will soon shift on making Gemini available and the default option across Android devices – be it smartwatches, tablets, or headphones.

Gemini to arrive on more devices soon

Google’s move to bring Gemini to a broader range of devices is not just a natural expansion – it’s a strategic one. As Sundar Pichai confirmed, the company’s focus after mobile will be squarely on wearables, tablets, and even in-car experiences. Users can expect a more seamless, interactive AI experience that extends beyond their phones and into their daily lives, whether they’re checking a notification on their smartwatch, navigating through their car’s infotainment system, or streaming media through smart headphones.

While Google has not given a definitive retirement date for Google Assistant, the messaging is increasingly clear – Gemini is the future. As newer Android smartphones have already started replacing Google Assistant with Gemini by default, tablets, smartwatches, and headphones are next in line. Even older devices could see the switch with future updates. However, Google has yet to release a detailed roadmap specifying the exact devices or timelines.

The arrival of Gemini on these form factors will likely bring advanced multimodal capabilities like real-time camera analysis, richer screen-sharing experiences, and a more natural conversational style that’s already live on select Pixel and Samsung devices via Gemini Live. Notably, some of these features, like Gemini Live’s enhanced functionalities, are currently gated behind a Gemini Advanced subscription.

Expanding Gemini’s ecosystem

Beyond just replacing Google Assistant, Google is also heavily investing in expanding Gemini’s capabilities. During the earnings call, Pichai highlighted the launch of Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 2.5 Flash models – the latter designed to offer a lighter, faster AI experience suited for real-time interactions across devices. Meanwhile, Gemini Robotics, a new area of focus, hints at Google’s ambitions to embed Gemini deeper into physical devices and environments.

ALSO READ: Google unveils Gemini 2.5, its most advanced AI model yet

The integration of Gemini across mobile, tablets, wearables, and even Android Automotive suggests that Google envisions a future where AI isn’t just an add-on but a foundational layer across all Android-powered ecosystems. By unifying the experience under Gemini, Google could create tighter cross-device functionality, from answering calls on your headphones to navigating your smart car dashboard, all powered by the same AI brain.

While many details remain under wraps, users can expect the first wave of Gemini upgrades for non-mobile devices to begin later in 2025. Given the scale of the transition, it’s likely that newer flagship devices will be prioritised, followed by rollouts for older models where hardware compatibility allows.

For now, one thing is clear: Google is betting big on Gemini as the next-generation assistant. For more news about all things tech, stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma.