Dicio: The Free Android Assistant That Works On-Device and Respects Privacy

Google is retiring Google Assistant next month, and Gemini has not filled the gap well, particularly for hands-free phone calls. Dicio, a free and open-source Android voice assistant, is one viable replacement. It runs all speech recognition and processing on-device, so no third-party server hears your commands. ZDNET contributor Jack Wallen tested it in August 2026 and found it handles most core assistant tasks reliably, with two notable exceptions: it cannot send messages or emails, and it does not work with Android Auto.

What happened

Detail	Fact
App name	Dicio
Cost	Free
Source	Open-source (GitHub)
Platform	Android (available on Google Play Store)
Processing	Entirely on-device
Wake word	“Hey, Dicio” (pronounced “diss-eee-oh”)
Google Assistant end date	Next month (as of August 2026)

Google has confirmed it is permanently retiring Google Assistant, and Gemini has not proven to be a reliable replacement for certain tasks, most notably hands-free phone calls. Dicio fills that gap for Android users who want a local, privacy-respecting alternative.

According to the Dicio GitHub page, the app “interprets user input and (when possible) generates user output entirely on-device, providing privacy by design.” That means no cloud server is processing your voice commands, and no third party has access to what you say.

What can Dicio actually do?

Wallen tested Dicio against his typical Assistant workflow. Here is how each task performed:

Task	Result
Setting timers	Works as expected
Hands-free phone calls	Works as expected
Reading notifications	Works as expected
Hands-free navigation (Google Maps)	Works well
Weather	Works well
Controlling media (Spotify)	Works flawlessly
Opening default Android apps	Works; some third-party apps do not open
Calculations	Does not work (bug reported)
Note-taking	Does not work
Sending messages or emails	Does not work
Android Auto integration	Does not work

Dicio also supports telling jokes, finding song lyrics, translating, controlling wake-word listening, and turning on the flashlight, per the GitHub documentation.

How does Android Auto fit in?

The biggest limitation is Android Auto compatibility. Dicio cannot be added to the Android Auto launcher because Google does not currently recognise it as a valid voice assistant for that platform. Fixing this requires Google to change its policy, not something Dicio’s developers can do on their own.

For drivers who depend on a hands-free assistant in the car, this is a real gap. If Android Auto integration matters to you, Dicio is not a complete solution yet.

Setting up Dicio

1. Search for “Dicio” in the Google Play Store and tap Install.
2. Open the app and grant microphone permission by tapping “While using this app.”
3. Tap “Download speech to text” to pull the required language file.
4. Tap “Grant permission” on the wake-word card, allow access, and download the AI model.

After setup, say “Hey, Dicio” followed by your command. Settings include language, theme, skills, input method, wake-word recognition, search output method, and silence thresholds. There is also a custom wake-word import option, though Wallen notes it requires Python Pip via command line and appears aimed at desktop use, not Android.

Why it matters

Gemini is Google’s intended replacement for Assistant, but it has documented problems with hands-free calling reliability. For users who rely on voice commands for calls, timers, or navigation while doing other things, a gap in that functionality is not a minor inconvenience.

Dicio is interesting because it keeps all processing local. That matters increasingly as businesses become more aware of what cloud-based AI assistants hear and store. If you are talking to your phone about contacts, appointments, or calls, on-device processing means none of that leaves the device. This is relevant context for anyone thinking about AI integration in a business setting, where data handling is not optional fine print.

The app is also under active development, which means missing features like note-taking and messaging could be added. There is no indication yet that Android Auto support is on the roadmap, since that requires cooperation from Google rather than the Dicio team.

Our take

Dicio is a genuinely useful stopgap, not a hyped alternative. For anyone who used Google Assistant primarily for calls, timers, navigation, and media, it covers the practical daily use cases well. The on-device angle is a real differentiator, not a talking point: if privacy matters in your workflow, running local models instead of pushing everything to a cloud server is the right architecture.

That said, the Android Auto limitation is significant for anyone who uses voice control while driving. And missing features like message sending and note-taking mean it is not a full drop-in replacement today. If those features are important, the honest answer is to keep an eye on the project’s GitHub and wait.

We have seen similar patterns with AI tools broadly: the privacy-respecting option often lags behind on convenience features, but the gap is closing. If you are evaluating how AI tools handle sensitive voice or text data in a business context, following coverage like our AI news roundups will help you track when the trade-offs shift in a meaningful way.

What to do about it

1. Install Dicio from the Google Play Store now, before Google Assistant is retired, so you have time to test it against your actual use cases.
2. Set it as your default assistant if hands-free calls, timers, and navigation cover most of what you need.
3. Keep Google Assistant or Gemini available as a fallback if you rely on message sending or Android Auto.
4. Watch the Dicio GitHub page for updates on note-taking, messaging, and Android Auto support.

If your voice assistant needs are business-critical and you want help evaluating privacy-first AI tools for your team, get in touch with the Lumien team.

Source: ZDNET · AI