Google’s annual I/O developer convention is sort of right here, and all eyes shall be on the corporate’s opening keynote. However for the primary time in years, we all know there’s little purpose 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 not less than somewhat time dedicated to XR.
When Google I/O will occur and the place you may watch
If you happen to’re planning to observe, make sure to put aside ample time. I/O keynotes normally run for a pair hours, and even with no new Android bulletins, we’d count on the identical this time.
As my colleague Allison Johnson put it over the weekend, the truth that this 12 months’s I/O keynote shall be targeted on AI shouldn’t come as a shock. Gemini and its ilk have dominated the occasion for 2 years operating, and Google is embroiled in an AI race with OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and extra. In truth, I/O kicks off a day after Microsoft’s Construct developer occasion, which ought to make for an fascinating back-to-back comparability.
It’s doubtless that Google could have heaps to say about new Gemini options coming to telephones and different gadgets, 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 received’t be completely 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, apart from affirmation of Gemini assist to return, however a closing tease from Android head Sameer Samat urged that we’ll not less than see extra from Google’s prototype sensible glasses.
Samsung nonetheless says its Venture Moohan Android XR headset goes to launch this 12 months, so this is perhaps Google’s final likelihood to element the software program aspect earlier than Samsung steals the limelight.
Don’t count on Pixel or Nest {hardware}
Google used to make use of I/O to launch Pixel telephones and Nest sensible residence tech, nevertheless it doesn’t appear eager on the concept anymore. If we had been going to listen to about new telephones, tablets, or wearables, then it doubtless 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 count on something past that.
