Google is quietly rolling out its Gemini AI tool as the default assistant on Android, even on devices where users never explicitly enabled it. In many cases, Gemini replaces Google Assistant by default, making it increasingly challenging to disable fully.
This deep integration means Gemini can still be active in the background, accessing your apps, system features, and personal info.
Here’s what Gemini can access:
Gmail Google Calendar Google Drive & Docs Maps, Keep, Tasks Messages, Phone, and even WhatsAppEven more concerning:
Your data is used to train Google’s AI. Human reviewers may see your chats. Data can be shared with 3rd parties. As of July 2025, Gemini stays connected to apps even when activity tracking is turned off.🛑 You can’t fully disable Gemini, but you can limit it:
How to limit Gemini on Android:
Turn off activity tracking Revoke permissions Uninstall it (if possible)Further options, if you’re privacy-conscious:
Reduce your reliance on Google services or fully de-Google Consider a privacy-first OS like GrapheneOS or CalyxOS⚠️ Google is making Gemini the default assistant for all Android devices by the end of 2025.
Choose privacy over AI surveillance.
If you want tools that respect your data, ensure you use encrypted email, a private calendar, and a secure cloud, with no AI training or human review.
Any Linux phones that don’t have 2013 specs and not out of stock?
You can technically put PostmarketOS on a wide variety of devices, but it isn’t a “pure” Linux experience, since it is using the same proprietary blobs as the vendor to get all the hardware working.
Depends how anal you want to be
Been keeping an eye on it, but looks like it would break my current phone :(
There’s the rub :/
I’m waiting too dude, I’m waiting too