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We’ve joked for the past several years that Google I/O, the company’s developers conference, is actually similar to Google A/I. There is a lot of truth behind that. Many Google apps have gotten an AI makeover. But in a field as fraught as artificial intelligence, things are changing quickly. thus We’re gearing up for Google I/O 2026we revisit what has changed over the past year.
Google’s approach to multidimensional AI. Gemini, the company’s AI, is integrated into every part of the business, from devices like the new AI-enabled Pixel phones and smart glasses to AI integrations into every piece of software like search, Google Docs, Gmail, and more. Gemini, the chatbot, has also led the group in a competitive industry and gained industry-first capabilities.
The AI industry as a whole has changed a lot over the past year as well. Phoebe encoding and Clawsor agents, have taken off. Data centers powering artificial intelligence are multiplying, and they have sparked significant backlash in the communities where they have been proposed because Environmental and economic concerns. Shortage of computer chips, sometimes It is referred to as Ramagunaffecting every part of the technology industry. There are still serious questions about it The role of artificial intelligence in our mental health And concerns about artificial intelligence leading to Layoffs, Loss of job and An Internet brimming with artificial intelligence.
All of Google’s work in AI over the past year has laid the foundation for its future work. Here are the key trends we’ve seen from Google over the past year and what they suggest might come next.
Watch this: Google I/O 2026: New Gemini, smart glasses, and an all-new laptop operating system. Here’s what to expect
Gemini latest updates
Google leapfrogged competitors in November 2025 with the Gemini 3. At the time, the Gemini 3 had the most advanced AI capabilities of any other model, Raising “code red” concerns. Inside competitors like OpenAI and laying the technological foundation for the Gemini updates we’ve had since. In the “icing on the cake” moment, Apple Gemini has officially chosen To turn on a smarter Siri, He reportedly paid $1 billion For fun.
twin 3.1 Pro It is the latest model, based on its logic capabilities. Google doesn’t implement as many iterative models as OpenAI and Anthropic, but it releases new features regularly. Over the past few months, we’ve gotten the ability to do just that Create files and Interactive images Directly in chats, a New Mac application, NotebookLM integrations And more.
Agentic AI is another area in which Google is investing. Gemini agents can run processes and complete tasks autonomously. But Google recently It closed its pilot project, Marinerwhich can be used to run proxies over the web. The project’s capabilities will be used in other Gemini projects, and we’ll likely hear more about the future of Google’s agentic AI at I/O — including, perhaps, more about Astra ProjectGoogle DeepMind technology AI helps ‘see’ Or recognize things as in Camera mode in Gemini Live.
Google is also one of the only major AI companies To give us a sneak peek On the environmental cost of artificial intelligence. Unsurprisingly, the cost of an individual claim is said to be “negligible”. But when you multiply that by the billions of claims filed every day — and a growing number of agents working independently — those numbers skyrocket. Making AI more efficient through new hardware, such as chips and software changes, has become a priority for AI companies that are battling rising costs while still developing new advanced models.
Banana for creative artificial intelligence
Google has had a lot of success over the past year with image and video creation using artificial intelligence. The original Nano Banana image model was released in August, dethroning most other creative AI services. the Professional version and Second generation models It built on its popularity and made Google a formidable player in the field of generative media. On the video side of things, we also got… I see 3.1 and 3.1 Liteminor updates to its video model originally released at I/O. This year, we also got Jenny, Google’s experimental 3D world builder.
This is not a real cat or a real Monopoly game board. Created by Nano Banana Pro.
Image and video have been rapidly developing areas in the AI industry. Google has been a big part of this push. But not all AI companies are committed to generative media; OpenAI recently announced that it will be Stop AI video applicationSora. While most of the major AI companies have doubled down on their workplace and AI coding tools, we could still see Google, with all its vast resources, launching some new media models.
Google announced in January that it would add Nano Banana and Veo to their television sets (In addition to the already existing Gemini Allows you to talk to your TV). Its filmmaking platform, Google Flow, I reached a milestone From 100 million videos generated by artificial intelligence. But this creative AI may have some problems, as we saw at Disney Google slapped with a lawsuit Alleging widespread copyright infringement in December.
Artificial intelligence devices: pixels and smart glasses
AI hardware is becoming an increasingly important part of technology companies’ plans – and now that software is increasingly capable, it’s time to put it into specific products. We’ve seen this in many different devices, including phones, smart watches, and smart glasses.
The latest Google Pixel 10 line Full of artificial intelligence. Practical tools include live voice translation and Magic Cue, which displays relevant information through your phone apps. There are also a range of image editing tools. When zoomed beyond 10x on Pixel 10 phones, it will be used Generative AI to fill in the blanks And sharpen those details. There’s an AI-powered Gemini Camera trainer This will prompt you to get what you think is the best shot.
Read more: In 2026, Google is focused on making AI actually useful
Google Artificial intelligence health coach It is also being asked. It’s inside New Fitbit Airwhich uses artificial intelligence to analyze your health data to create personalized exercise and recovery plans. This was originally promised to pixel watch 4which was released in October. But the Watch had other AI tools, which is why CNET reviewer Vanessa Hand Orellana called it “a truly competent, hands-free AI voice assistant that won’t leave you screaming at your wrist.”
Google’s latest smart glasses show that the company has come a long way since the failure of the Google Glass project in 2013. The company has long been Exciting Android XR technologyAnd I worked with Samsung on that Galaxy XR mixed reality headset. It gave her the foundation she needed to build herself up Gemini headphones and glasses. We expect to learn more about Google’s plans for smart glasses very soon.
Artificial intelligence in Google search and beyond
Perhaps more than any other Google program, search has been dramatically changed by Google’s AI. AI overview summaries are still ongoing, With the new changes Expanding on the information they include and pulling from “live” sources like Reddit. AI mode, which was introduced at last year’s I/O conference, performs search queries More like talking to a chatbot and He has agent abilities To do research for you. You can upload photos and files For artificial intelligence analysis And the use of artificial intelligence for Try on clothes virtually Want to buy?
Google also has been building Personal intelligence in research. This uses information from your Google apps — email, calendar, and photos — and theoretically gives you search results that are more relevant to your life. This is one of Google’s biggest advantages in the AI race — it has so many different products that its AI can pull information from across the ecosystem. This is great for convenience, but not so much for privacy.
Personalized intelligence designs results for you.
If there’s one thing we’ve seen from Google over the past year, it’s that no Gemini software is safe. Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides They’ve all got new AI tools. Gemini can create template documents, eliminating manual data entry and making slides aesthetically cohesive. You’ve probably noticed that the Gemini star icon has been moved to center stage in these programs.
Still not enough AI for you? Gemini can Suggest meetings and Manage your GCal. Google has it Geminis are everywhere. Google Maps contributors can get Gemini polishing Submissions. Google Photos has a lot of features Image editing tools Powered by artificial intelligence. YouTube is full of artificial intelligence, from Creator Tools to User features and Artificial intelligence videos. Google Smart home appliances I also got a heavy dose of Gemini. The list is endless.
Gemini, for better or worse, is the new Google. It seems unlikely that the company will move away from artificial intelligence any time soon. So we can expect a lot from Gemini at this year’s developer conference and beyond.
