Google I/O 2024: what to expect, from Google Gemini wizardry to Android 15
Google I/O 2024 is a matter of hours away, with the big G's festival for Android 15, Wear OS 5, Android TV and more kicking off today (May 14). The official Google I/O schedule was spotted on April 25 by @MishaalRahman on X, formerly Twitter, hinting at what we can expect to be unveiled later today - including some big new software upgrades.
If you're wondering how to watch Google I/O 2024 live, your best option would be to head over to YouTube where it will be livestreamed on Google's main account, set to kick off at 10am PT / 5pm GMT today (3am AEST in Australia). Details of the follow-up sessions hint at what Google is planning to show off, and yes, this means we'll get our first look at Wear OS 5.
That's confirmed in the 'Building for the future of Wear OS' session, which will help developers "discover the new features of Wear OS 5". Considering the smartwatch platform appeared to be flirting with the Google Graveyard not long ago, that's good news. We'll presumably hear more about a release date at the event, and maybe even a Pixel Watch 3.
Gemini updates, ChromeOS, and more
What else does the schedule reveal? Android 15 was always a shoo-in for this year's show, so it's no surprise that the OS will be covered alongside "generative AI, form factors" and more at Google I/O 2024.
Thirdly, AI will naturally be a huge general theme, with Google Gemini a consistent thread across the event. Developers will discover "new ways to build immersive 3D maps" and how to make "next-gen AI apps with Gemini models". Gemini will also power new apps for Google Chat and create new content from images and video, thanks to Google's multi-modal Gemini Pro Vision model.
Google is also expected to bring a new AI upgrade to YouTube Music, doubling down on the music streaming service's AI capabilities. Just this week a YouTube Music extension for Gemini was spotted in testing, and if the speculation is true, this means you could command Gemini to play music through your YouTube Music account.
Fans of Android Auto will also be pleased to hear that it'll likely get some upgrades, too, with one developer session titled "Android for Cars: new in-car experiences". Likewise, Google TV and Android TV OS will get a mention, at the very least, with one session promising to show off "new user experience enhancements in Google TV and the latest additions to the next Android TV OS platform".
Lastly, ChromeOS will get some upgrades, with a session promising "new" features and some new "world-class experiences" for Chromebooks. Surprisingly, even Google Pay gets a mention in the schedule, even though it will officially be discontinued a few weeks after Google I/O 2024 on June 4, in favor of Google Wallet. Who knows, perhaps we'll even be treated to a tour of the Google Graveyard, including its latest inhabitant, Google Podcasts.
Will there be hardware at Google I/O 2024?
Because Google I/O 2024 is a developer conference, its sessions are all themed around software – but we'll almost certainly see lots of new hardware treats announced during the keynote, too.
On the phones front, the Google Pixel 8a has now almost fully leaked, pointing to an imminent announcement for the mid-ranger. Similarly, we've also seen leaked photos of the Google Pixel 9 alongside rumors of a Pixel 9 Pro (both of which could deliver iPhone-style satellite connectivity).
This week, rumors about a refreshed Pixel Tablet (rather than a Pixel Tablet 2) suggested it could also make its bow at Google's conference. A Google Pixel Fold 2 is also on the cards, though we have also heard whispers of a Pixel 9 Pro Fold instead.
As always, we can expect some surprises too, like when Google teased its live-translation glasses at Google I/O 2022, which then sadly disappeared in a cloud of vaporware. Let's hope its new ideas for this year's conference stick around a little longer.
