IMPORTANT: Please read https://developer.android.com/studio/report-bugs.html carefully and supply all required information.

Studio Build: 4.1
Version of Gradle Plugin: 4.1
Version of Gradle: 6.6
Version of Java: 1.8
OS: All

Since AGP 4.1, assert() is working properly because of D8 behavior change.
https://jakewharton.com/d8-optimization-assertions/#tomorrows-behavior

But lint checker still warn with old behavior with following message.

Assertions are never enabled in Android. Use BuildConfig.DEBUG conditional checks instead.

Please disable AssertDetector that can provide misleading help.