What We’re Expecting at Google I/O 2026

Google I/O 2026 kicks off on Tuesday, May 19. Yours really might be reside on the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif., reside running a blog Google inject AI into each platform and gear that it makes.

In case it hasn’t been clear over the previous few years, Google’s new purpose is to make Gemini synonymous with AI. That means shoving Gemini—in its numerous varieties and fashions—in as many merchandise as attainable. Expect that to be the primary theme once more.

What else ought to we anticipate to see on the developer convention? Let’s look into our crystal ball.

Gemini might be all over the place

At I/O 2025, Google launched a number of fashions of Gemini 2.5, together with Gemini 2.5 Flash and a couple of.5 Pro. Gemini 3 launched in November 2025, and was adopted by previews of Gemini 3.1 Pro and three.1 Flash-Lite in February and March, respectively. Will Google announce Gemini 4 or will we get a brand new decimal model of Gemini 3 comparable to a 3.5 or 3.8?

Whatever the model quantity for the following Gemini is, I’m predicting that it’ll be integrated all through Google’s {hardware}, software program, and companies. That means extra Gemini on Android, ChromeOS, Android Auto, and extra. How way more highly effective the parameters might be or how a lot sooner it’ll run on sure gadgets might be one thing to concentrate to.

Android’s transformation into an “Intelligence System”

The Android Show final week gave us a preview of Android 17’s transformation from working system to “intelligence system,” the place Gemini will perceive, anticipate, and take motion for you. This infusion of “agentic” capabilities is meant to utterly change how we work together with Android-powered telephones, tablets, and different computing gadgets.

I’m wanting ahead to attempting out this new “Gemini Intelligence.” But I’m a bit involved many customers won’t get an opportunity to expertise it because of excessive Android {hardware} necessities. According to a footnote on Android’s official website (by way of 9to5Google), Gemini Intelligence requires a tool with 12GB of RAM and a “qualified SOC flagship chip,” and it should obtain 5 Android OS updates and assist AI Core and Gemini Nano v3 (or larger). That means even gadgets as current because the Pixel 9 collection and the bottom Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 won’t qualify.

Still, I’m excited to get my palms on Android 17 to take a look at options like Rambler (an AI function that improves dictation by eradicating filler phrases), the brand new 3D emoji, Pause Point (a brand new display screen time function that stops you from opening distracting apps), and the brand new Create My Widget, which helps you to create your individual residence display screen widgets with Gemini.

More particulars on Android XR

Everyone appears to be betting on sensible glasses being the longer term. Google gave us a preview of Android XR, its prolonged actuality platform for sensible glasses and headsets, final 12 months, however we didn’t get any finer particulars on any gadgets to stay up for. We solely noticed a prototype.

I’m actually hoping that Google and its eyewear companions pull up with some completed (or near-finished) sensible glasses that can provide us a greater thought of what to anticipate. Will Android XR sensible glasses—ones with one or two shows in them—make Meta’s Ray-Ban Display appear to be a toy?

The downside with the Ray-Ban Display is that there aren’t any third-party apps, which implies performance has been fairly restricted for the $800 sensible glasses. Meta introduced final week that builders can now begin constructing internet apps for the screen-equipped sensible glasses. While we’ve seen some cool demos like YouTube and even Doom, there’s nonetheless loads of time for an organization like Google to swoop in with a platform filled with XR apps and take the lead.

An official identify for the Googlebook OS?

Google surprise-announced its subsequent technology of laptops referred to as Googlebooks throughout The Android Show, however stopped wanting sharing a reputation for the “modern OS that’s designed for Intelligence.” We know the codename for the OS is Aluminium OS, however what is going to the official identify be? My guess is on GoogleOS. Sounds apparent, however it’d match Googlebooks. Plus, what different identify would befit a software program mashup of Android and ChromeOS?

Sharing a primary take a look at the Googlebooks {hardware} that’s coming from PC makers like Asus, Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo could be good, too. Leave I/O attendees with some {hardware} eye sweet to drool over.

More highly effective AI slop technology

Google’s AI video generator, Veo, was up to date to model 3 final 12 months—and it instantly turned reviled and revered for its leap in realism. Whether you suppose Veo 3 is helpful for inventive tasks or hate it for destroying jobs, there’s no placing the AI video generator again into the bottle. Veo will seemingly solely get extra highly effective in producing practical video.

If there’s any convention to point out off Veo 4, I/O is it. And if Google really cares about secure AI, it’ll announce some sort of method to clearly distinguish Veo-generated content material in order that fewer individuals are fooled by AI movies.

Updates to Google’s present platforms

Google has already shared particulars on the way it’s refreshing Android Auto for extra display screen shapes and sizes and bettering in-car experiences with dashboard widgets and a revamped Google Maps and navigation. But as a developer convention, Google will seemingly additionally share updates for platforms like Wear OS, Google TV, ChromeOS, and extra.

Don’t anticipate any new Pixel {hardware} at I/O, although. We might get a teaser on the Tensor G6’s AI efficiency, however the Pixel 11 collection and any potential Pixel Watch 5 aren’t anticipated till August the earliest.