Here's What We Expect to See at Google I/O 2026
Google I/O is nearly upon us. Google's big developer conference kicks off May 19 and will be available to stream live for anyone not invited to the keynote in California. While you likely won't get a look at the company's upcoming Pixel products, this presentation will contain a slew of software announcements—though we don't exactly know what Google has up its sleeve.
Last year, the company made a number of interesting announcements. We got our first look at Android XR, Google’s platform for smart glasses; AI Mode’s general rollout for Search, following an initial beta period; Gemini Live's official rollout on iPhones; Try it on, a feature that lets you virtually try on clothes; and new AI models across Google's product line. This year will likely feature similar announcements, though the rumors have been pretty thin. That said, we can make some educated guesses here to figure out what Google might be planning:
Google already announced Android 17 features
While I/O would typically be the keynote to announce new Android developments, the company decided instead to reveal this news during a special I/O Edition of The Android Show last week. We learned about Gemini Intelligence, which adds agentic features, more advanced autofill, and improved dictation; Googlebooks, Google's newest laptop platform, meant to bridge the gap between Android and computers; new features that should improve the experience of uploading posts to social media platforms like Instagram; as well as expanded AirDrop support
Google will almost assuredly reveal more AI at I/O
Google, like most tech companies, is all-in on AI right now. That's not going to change with I/O 2026. In fact, expect to see plenty of new AI announcements, both in features and performance leaps. Keep an eye out for updates to the company's big AI products, like Veo (AI video), Nano Banana (AI images), Lyria (AI music), and Gemma (lightweight open models).
Speaking of AI, chances are good that we'll see a new version of Gemini at this year's event. Gemini is Google's flagship AI, including both its chatbot and its AI models. That likely means new models that are faster and more capable than previous iterations. Google has been full speed ahead on Gemini news lately, adding the tech to Google Maps, rolling Nano Banana into the chatbot, and changing how it deals with mental health. I'm fully expecting to see some major Gemini updates at I/O 2026—even if the rumor mill is quiet on specifics.
Gemini Remy
Speaking of Gemini, Google may be cooking up a new AI agent, which rumors suggest is called "Remy." The idea is to allow Remy to run tasks on your behalf, without too much input on your part—a true realization of the term "assistant." Perhaps Remy responds to emails for you, manages your calendar and updates it as needed, and learns from your interests over time to tailor its actions to your needs.
The whole AI industry is moving towards agentic assistants at the same time that developers and engineers embrace automated tools like OpenClaw to run tasks on their behalf. We'll have to see if Google decides to run with "Remy," and how the company might implement this tool in their own suite of products and services.
Google may announce Android XR news at I/O
Google announced Android XR at last year’s I/O event. The pitch focused on a HUD that displays Android elements in your view—including things like messages and Google Maps. That also includes Gemini Live integration, which makes sense. (What good are smart glasses without an assistant that can see what you see?) At the time, Google announced a number of partnerships for its smart glasses platform, including Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Maybe we’ll learn about some Android XR-powered glasses this year, along with a timeline of when we can buy them.
Smart glasses are an emerging market, with more companies and products hitting the scene. But with that growth comes legitimate security concerns. When anyone can buy a pair of glasses with subtle, embedded cameras, how does that square with a public that may not want to be filmed at all times—especially without their knowledge? Some are already fighting back: This app can snitch on people who are wearing smart glasses, in case the frames themselves aren't obvious. We'll have to see how Google handles privacy and security with Android XR—though the company isn't necessarily known for privacy.
Google Home Display
Google is gearing up to release a new Google Home Speaker, but rumors suggest the company may be working on a complementary Google Home Display, as well. As reported by 9to5Google, Google embedded "Google Home Display" in the code of the Google Home app on iOS, indicating the company is working on a smart screen to pair with the app.
The Google Home Speaker still doesn't have a dedicated release date, despite Google confirming the device would launch "spring 2026." We're in the middle of spring 2026 now, so I/O could be the time to confirm release dates for the speaker—as well as a new smart display, to boot. Google hasn't released a smart display since the Nest Hub back in 2021, so it's well overdue.
Aluminum OS
Google might also take the opportunity to talk about Aluminum OS, the company’s mission to combine Android and ChromeOS. The idea is to design a version of Android for desktop—not simply expand Android to run on larger displays. This is likely the OS running on Googlebooks, but, interestingly, Google never confirmed the name of the OS during The Android Show.
Comments
Post a Comment