We’re sliding into developer convention season and one of many greatest occasions on the upcoming calendar is Google I/O. This 12 months’s version is happening on Might 19 and 20. As ordinary, the in-person factor will occur in Mountain View, California, although lots of the keynotes and classes shall be livestreamed. Google will certainly make its greatest bulletins through the opening keynote, which can begin at 1PM ET on Might 19. A developer keynote will happen later the identical day.
As ever, the rumor mill will choose up velocity within the leadup to Google I/O. We do have some concepts about what Google will talk about on the occasion. So let’s check out what to anticipate at Google I/O 2026 (we’ll replace this story as we hear extra credible rumors).
What’s formally on deck
Google I/O brand (Google)
When it confirmed the dates for this 12 months’s I/O, Google revealed a bit of bit about what it has in retailer for us. As you may think, AI shall be a significant focus of the occasion. Google plans to share its “AI breakthroughs and updates in merchandise throughout the corporate, from Gemini to Android, Chrome, Cloud and extra,” it wrote in a weblog submit in February.
There shall be information on Gemini mannequin updates in addition to agentic coding. Google could have some product demos too.
The corporate has launched its preliminary schedule of keynotes and classes, but it surely would not present us with a number of specifics as but. It has lined up discussions on what’s new within the likes of Google Play, Firebase (a cellular and net app growth platform), the Gemma open mannequin household and the open-source app growth framework Flutter. Curiously, there is not a devoted session for Android XR on the schedule simply but.
What to anticipate
Leaked picture of Google’s Aluminium OS (9to5Google)
There have not been many credible leaks forward of Google I/O as but, however we are able to make some educated guesses about what to anticipate from the occasion. It is all however sure that we’ll get extra particulars about Android 17 at I/O. Builders want time to tweak their apps forward of the subsequent main model of the working system rolling out to everybody in the event that they need to reap the benefits of new options as quickly as doable, they usually invariably get a heads up about these at I/O yearly. (That stated, Google has been shifting away from an enormous annual launch method in favor of juicier Pixel Drops/Android updates, so we could not see a few of the new options it unveils at I/O for a while.)
As for different working techniques, Google is planning to meld ChromeOS and Android right into a unified platform. This appears to be the mission that is being known as Aluminium OS, which we obtained a primary glimpse of earlier this 12 months because of some leaks. I/O looks like the right venue for Google to begin exhibiting that off to the general public.
On the AI entrance, a reveal of Gemini 4 might be on the docket, together with particulars of the most recent Veo text-to-video mannequin. Perhaps we’ll hear extra about Challenge Astra, Google’s pitch for a common AI assistant.
If Google has some client {hardware} to point out off at this 12 months’s occasion, I believe it’s going to be an Android XR gadget or units, somewhat than a Pixel telephone or watch. There’s a likelihood that we’ll get a tease of the Google Pixel 11 lineup. However do not be shocked if we do not see that or the Pixel Watch 5 till Google’s devoted {hardware} occasion, which has taken place in August or October lately (Google will need to keep nicely away from Apple’s iPhone occasion, which can doubtless happen in September as ordinary).
Right here’s hoping for an enormous shock or two
Positive, Android updates are all nicely and good. If Google insists on cramming Gemini and different AI instruments into all of its instruments and providers, we’ll at the least take heed to what they need to say about all that.
However I’ve my fingers crossed for some cool surprises. Give us one thing new from Google X (Alphabet’s moonshot manufacturing unit, not the factor that was as soon as Twitter), an concept that might be a internet profit for humanity and enhance the corporate’s backside line on the similar time. These occasions are all the time extra enjoyable when there’s one thing for us to get genuinely enthusiastic about, even when it’s one thing comparatively area of interest however on the market, just like the Google Beam 3D video conferencing tech.
