Club Benefits
Google has spent the past year making Gemini unavoidable. Today, at its annual I/O developer conference, it gets to show whether that bet is paying off.
Today's keynote streams live from the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California hosted by CEO Sundar Pichai. It starts at 10 am Pacific (1 pm Eastern, 6 pm BST) and typically runs 90 to 120 minutes.
How to watch Google I/O
Tuning into Google I/O is straightforward. The entire event is streaming for free at io.google and on Google’s own YouTube channel, with no sign-in or account required.
The stream will include live captions, and an instant replay will be available the moment the broadcast wraps up.
What to expect
The headliners are Android 17, a round of Gemini AI updates, and a first proper look at Android XR smart glasses — wearables built with Samsung, Xreal, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker that are due to launch later this year.
Google pre-announced a lot of the Android 17 upgrades already, but I/O is where the full picture comes together: AI-assisted task automation through Gemini Intelligence, improved voice recognition, a redesigned Android Auto, and new 3D emoji are all among the new features.
Gemini itself is expected to get a significant upgrade, including a rumoured "Omni" model focused on video generation. Expect Google to spend considerable time showing how Gemini now threads through Search, Android, and its creative tools, including Flow.
Also on the agenda: Googlebooks, the new Android-powered laptop category, with Acer, HP, Lenovo, and Dell all building hardware for a launch by the end of the year.
The part I'm most excited about
Google I/O almost always saves something. Previous years have produced surprise model announcements, unexpected hardware, and significant pivots to core products like Search and Photos.
Last year the story turned out to be how deeply Gemini had been woven into everything. This year, the equivalent reveal could come from almost any direction.
Let’s not forget the live demo wildcard. Google’s on-stage tech previews have a rich history of going off-script, look no further than the Sabrina Carpenter Gemini hiccup at the Pixel 9 event. Yet, for every awkward glitch, just as many moments go according to plan.
Either way, they tend to be the watercooler moments people are still buzzing about the next morning. That alone is worth keeping a tab open for.
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