Google I/O 2026: What to expect

Google I/O 2026 conference It starts on May 19, and although we already have a good idea of ​​what to expect, there’s plenty of room for surprises. The tech giant has been interested in artificial intelligence for the past few years, and that probably won’t change, but there may be a few hardware announcements to come this year.

From Android XR glasses to learning more about Aluminum OS, there’s a lot to look forward to. Below, we’ll fill you in on what we expect Google to talk about during its I/O keynote.

More AI features

We expect Google to announce several new AI features that are more integrated into its products. Now that Amnesty International agent If it’s all the rage, we’ll likely see Google lean more in that direction. This type of artificial intelligence can Perform tasks on your behalfsuch as controlling your own computer, with minimal supervision. We’ll have to wait and see what and how many AI features Google announces this time around.

Let’s also not rule out updates to existing or new products that Google could announce. Show, LiriaBeam and countless others could get some spotlight at this year’s conference.

Veo and Lyria are Google’s AI-generated video and music tools, respectively, and they’ve continued to improve since they were originally announced. Beam is an ambitious and futuristic method of video conferencing that uses multiple cameras to make it appear as if you are speaking directly to the person in front of you as a 3D model.

Gemini 4.0

Of all the AI ​​announcements, we expect Google to spend a significant amount of time talking about its flagship AI model twin. Whether it gets a solid 4.0 status or something like a 3.8, we know that the new version of Gemini will likely be one of the biggest announcements at Google I/O 2026.

It’s anyone’s guess what exactly Google was working on with Gemini. It’s easy to assume that the latest model will be smarter and faster than previous models, but Gemini itself is in almost every Google product these days, so it’ll be interesting to see how Google’s latest and greatest AI flows.

Google recently released a new notebook feature for Gemini that will let you store resources for a specific topic in one place for easy access. Notebooks are self-contained databases full of resources related to a particular topic that you can keep adding to. Gemini will use a notebook for context, so you don’t have to start over with sources of information.

These notebooks also sync directly with Google’s AI Research Assistant LM notebookallowing you to create a range of different outputs, such as video overviews, charts, and more. One of the main differences between NotebookLM and Gemini is that NotebookLM will only use your notebook as a source of truth, while Gemini will search the Internet using the notebook’s context for the search.

Geminis can now also be created Dynamic and interactive simulation Directly in your conversations when you ask him to “show” or “visualize” something.

Google hasn’t slowed down its rollout of Gemini features, so there’s likely a lot more coming its way with the latest version of the AI ​​model.

Android XR glasses

Google showed her Android glasses at I/O last year, along with a few of the partnerships it formed to create them, so we’ll likely see smart glasses become more of a product than a concept this year.

Smart glasses Gaining popularity, it took Google some time to get back into the space after its first swing at the sector. google glass It was way ahead of its time, but from the demos we’ve seen of Android XR, that patience may have paid off.

Google’s first set of “smart glasses” in 2013 were a pair of clear glasses with a protruding lens on which the wearer could display information, and even take photos and record video. The product was met with immediate and massive disapproval as an invasion of privacy, as well as being elitist and rude. This eventually led to the term “glass holes” being applied to the wearer.

A lot has changed since the introduction of Google Glass, and Android XR glasses It won’t sound nearly as clear when released, which might make it so Even scarybut at least it will come with a large number of usable features such as push notifications, live translation, and Gemini Live. They’re also launching into a now-established market, with smartglasses rivals from Meta’s collaborations with Ray Ban, Oakley And more. Samsung own Galaxy XR headset It runs on Android XR and is already available for purchase. This first piece of hardware to operate on the platform paves the way for more devices, with smart glasses being the natural next step.

Google I/O can give us more DemosAnd the final hardware details and release date when you will be able to get your hands on the Android XR glasses. Since there are multiple partners in the ring, price ranges can vary, potentially offering entry-level and high-end offerings.

Android 17

Android is Google’s playground for showcasing its best AI features, though some may be exclusive to new features Pixel phones We expect to see it later this year.

Google has launched the first beta version of Android 17its phone operating system, was released in February, and three additional beta versions have been released since then, most recently in mid-April. We can expect the latest version of the OS to be released in its final form sometime in June or July, shortly before the next family of Pixel devices is expected to be announced. For the past few years, the new Pixel lineup has been announced in August during a conference An event powered by Google.

So far, there are no great features in the Android 17 beta, but Google has introduced interesting tweaks all along. One of the most interesting features so far is App Bubbles, which lets you quickly access any app in a floating window and close it as a bubble on your screen.

Last year, Google split its Android announcements into a separate show the week before I/O: Android gallery. This allowed Google to spend more time talking about AI without sacrificing the advertising available for Android. It remains to be seen whether the Android Show will return this year, although there is a placeholder for the event on YouTube It was set live by mistake Last week before it was taken down.

Aluminum operating system

One of the most interesting projects that Google has prepared is the new operating system that Integrates Android and ChromeOS. The product, called Aluminum OS, will bring the Android operating system to laptops and other devices with the full Chrome web browsing experience.

Exactly when we’ll see devices for the new OS is still unknown, but Google could surprise us with partnership announcements or even a full product announcement at I/O this year. return a Pixelbook is made by Google It doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility either.

Merging Google’s two operating systems will likely provide a more seamless software experience between Aluminum and OS-powered PCs Android phones He reacts.