Google replaces Assistant with Gemini on Google TV streamer for smarter, natural voice control

Google Gemini

Google is officially bringing its Gemini AI to the Google TV Streamer, marking the end of Google Assistant on the platform. The rollout, which begins this week, will give users a more conversational and capable voice experience across their TVs.

With Gemini integrated directly into Google TV, users can now interact in a more natural, context-aware way. Instead of using rigid voice commands, you can say things like, “I like dramas but my wife likes comedies. What’s a movie we can watch together?” or “What happened at the end of Outlander last season?” The system goes beyond traditional search by offering personalised recommendations and quick recaps that feel more like talking to a real assistant than issuing commands.

Gemini’s capabilities also extend well beyond entertainment. Users can ask it general knowledge questions, get explanations suitable for kids — such as “Explain why volcanoes erupt to my third grader” — or request guidance for DIY projects and recipes with direct YouTube integration. Accessing Gemini is simple: press the microphone button on your remote and start speaking.

The rollout will continue over the next few weeks for users aged 18 and above. Google has been steadily expanding Gemini across its ecosystem, first introducing it to select TCL Google TVs in September and confirming earlier this year that 2025 Hisense and TCL models would also include it. Gemini is already live on Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro streaming device.

This transition is part of Google’s larger strategy to unify its ecosystem under Gemini, replacing the decade-old Google Assistant with a more powerful, AI-first experience. As Google continues to push Gemini across phones, smart displays, and now TVs, the shift signals the company’s ambition to make AI the core interface of its consumer products.