Google’s annual I/O developer convention is sort of right here, and all eyes will probably be on the corporate’s opening keynote. However for the primary time in years, we all know there’s little motive to hope for main Android OS bulletins, since Google already did that final week.
As a substitute, we’re anticipating I/O’s keynote to be (virtually) all about AI, although we do know there’ll be at the very least just a little time dedicated to XR.
When Google I/O will occur and the place you may watch
If you happen to’re planning to observe, remember to put aside ample time. I/O keynotes often run for a pair hours, and even with no new Android bulletins, we’d anticipate the identical this time.
As my colleague Allison Johnson put it over the weekend, the truth that this yr’s I/O keynote will probably be centered on AI shouldn’t come as a shock. Gemini and its ilk have dominated the occasion for 2 years working, and Google is embroiled in an AI race with OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and extra. In actual fact, I/O kicks off a day after Microsoft’s Construct developer occasion, which ought to make for an attention-grabbing back-to-back comparability.
It’s probably that Google can have heaps to say about new Gemini options coming to telephones and different units, up to date fashions with elevated energy, and hopefully some bold Venture Astra updates that may present us the pie-in-the-sky aspect of Google’s AI work.
There’ll be some XR, too
I/O gained’t be totally about AI, as Google has already promised updates on Android XR, too. The corporate’s prolonged actuality OS didn’t get a lot screentime throughout final week’s Android Present, aside from affirmation of Gemini assist to return, however a closing tease from Android head Sameer Samat steered that we’ll at the very least see extra from Google’s prototype sensible glasses.
Samsung nonetheless says its Venture Moohan Android XR headset goes to launch this yr, so this is likely to be Google’s final likelihood to element the software program aspect earlier than Samsung steals the limelight.
Don’t anticipate Pixel or Nest {hardware}
Google used to make use of I/O to launch Pixel telephones and Nest sensible dwelling tech, but it surely doesn’t appear eager on the concept anymore. If we have been going to listen to about new telephones, tablets, or wearables, then it probably would have occurred final week, and Google wouldn’t need something to distract from its AI updates. There’s an opportunity we’ll see new XR {hardware}, however you shouldn’t anticipate something past that.