Google I/O, the tech giant's biggest developer conference of the year, is just around the corner. Scheduled for May 20 to 21 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, this year's I/O promises to showcase a plethora of product announcements across Google’s extensive portfolio. Attendees can anticipate significant news regarding Android, Chrome, Google Search, YouTube, and, most importantly, updates related to Google’s AI-powered chatbot, Gemini.
Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly the tech du jour, and Google has been making substantial investments in this area, keeping pace with its competitors. A highly anticipated highlight of I/O will be the introduction of new additions to Google’s flagship Gemini family of AI models. Recent leaks have hinted at an upcoming Gemini Ultra model, which is expected to be Google’s most advanced offering in the Gemini lineup.
With the release of the upgraded Gemini Ultra, there may also be a corresponding increase in subscription pricing. Currently, Google offers a premium tier known as Gemini Advanced for $20 per month, unlocking enhanced capabilities within the Gemini chatbot. Speculations suggest that Google could soon introduce two new subscription plans, Premium Plus and Premium Pro. However, the specific benefits and pricing details for these new plans remain unclear.
Additionally, Google is likely to discuss its ambitious project, Astra, which aims to develop AI applications and "agents" for real-time, multimodal understanding. Another fascinating initiative on the agenda could be Project Mariner, designed to create AI agents that navigate and perform tasks across the web on behalf of users. Observers on social media platform X have noticed references to “Computer Use” in the code for Google’s AI Studio developer platform, suggesting a connection to Project Mariner.
This year marks a significant change for Google, as it will host a dedicated event for Android updates called The Android Show. Scheduled for the Tuesday before I/O, the event will focus on the latest version, Android 16. Among the expected updates are improved notifications and a complete redesign known as Material 3 Expressive. A leaked blog post from Google describes this overhaul as providing greater responsiveness and vibrant “action elements”.
Reports suggest that Android 16 will primarily serve as a quality-of-life update. New features may include support for Auracast, facilitating easier transitions between Bluetooth devices, along with lock screen widgets and enhanced accessibility options. Google may also showcase advancements in its mixed reality operating system, Android XR, and the latest features of Wear OS, the platform designed for wearable technology.
According to the official I/O schedule, Google has a wealth of topics to cover following The Android Show and the keynote addresses. The agenda includes sessions dedicated to Chrome, Google Cloud, and Google Play (the Android app store), alongside discussions on Android development tools and Gemma, Google’s collection of open AI models. This year's conference is set to be a significant event for developers and tech enthusiasts alike.
