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Android users now have a new choice for their default digital assistant as OpenAI’s latest beta update for the ChatGPT app introduces the ability to replace Google’s Gemini. This development offers users more flexibility in selecting their preferred AI assistant for everyday tasks.
The latest beta version (1.2025.070) enables users to embed ChatGPT as their main assistant throughout Android core functionalities. The system allows ChatGPT to assume control in place of Google’s Gemini once users activate their digital assistant.
ChatGPT can be activated by any user with the traditional three-button navigation system by holding down the home button. Swiping from the bottom corners and maintaining the gesture held allows users who navigate with gestures to initiate ChatGPT. When particular settings are enabled, the ChatGPT interface will be accessible by pressing the power button for an extended period of time.
Users are able to activate the voice function of ChatGPT as a critical component of this integration. The chatbot’s launch has enabled voice mode, which allows users to issue commands using their voice. Currently, ChatGPT lacks the hotword activation function that facilitates the “Hey Google” command in Google Gemini. The Android platform imposes limitations on specific APIs that prohibit their use in untrusted pre-installed applications.
Initial testing users have identified specific issues during the ongoing beta phase of ChatGPT’s integration. The system commences in full-charging mode; however, it automatically transitions to the enhanced bubble scene, which is more compatible with multitasking. Users can activate ChatGPT through a floating interface that draws design elements from the Android Quick Settings shortcut in 2025.
The feature is available in the beta version of the ChatGPT application, and users who are not enrolled in the Android beta program must wait until it is released to the public. OpenAI has not confirmed a specific release date for the general public.
This move by OpenAI marks a significant shift in how digital assistants operate on Android devices, offering users a more diverse AI experience beyond Google’s ecosystem. The next software improvements will improve ChatGPT’s default assistant capability, allowing it to compete more effectively in the AI assistant industry.
