Google I/O, the company’s major developer conference, is approaching soon. Set for May 20 to 21 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, the event will feature announcements across Google’s portfolio, including Android, Chrome, Google Search, YouTube, and Google’s AI-powered chatbot, Gemini.
Gemini and AI
In the current tech landscape, AI is a significant focus, and Google is heavily investing in this area. At I/O, additions to Google’s flagship Gemini family of AI models are anticipated. Recent leaks suggest the introduction of an updated Gemini Ultra model, which is a top-tier offering. This enhanced model may also result in a more expensive Gemini subscription.
Currently, Google offers a premium tier, Gemini Advanced, for $20 per month, unlocking additional chatbot capabilities powered by Gemini models. Reports indicate the possible launch of two new plans, Premium Plus and Premium Pro, though details and pricing relative to Gemini Advanced remain unknown.
Google is also expected to discuss Astra, its initiative for developing AI apps and “agents” for real-time, multimodal understanding. Project Mariner may also feature in discussions, focusing on AI “agents” capable of web navigation and actions on a user’s behalf. Observers have noted references to "Computer Use" in Google’s AI Studio developer platform code, possibly linked to Mariner.
Android 16
For the first time, Google is hosting a separate event dedicated to Android updates—The Android Show—taking place a week before I/O. The spotlight will be on Android 16, which promises improved notifications and a new design language, Material 3 Expressive. A leaked blog post describes this as a comprehensive overhaul with enhanced responsiveness.
Android 16 is seen as a quality-of-life update. It includes Auracast support for easier Bluetooth device switching, lock screen widgets, and new accessibility features. Additionally, there may be advancements in Android XR, Google’s mixed reality operating system, and Wear OS for wearables.
Everything Else
According to the official I/O schedule, Google has numerous sessions planned post-The Android Show and I/O keynotes. Topics include Chrome and Google Cloud, Google Play, Android development tools, and Gemma, Google’s collection of open AI models.
Last year, Google introduced several AI-focused innovations at I/O, such as LearnLM, AI models designed for education. An enhancement to the podcast-generating NotebookLM might be revealed, potentially featuring a "Video Overviews" tool for creating video summaries using Google’s Veo 2 model.
