Developer season has officially begun and we’re just days away from Google I/O 2024. The short answer to the question of what to expect is two letters: AI. Google I/O? More like Google A/I. There has been an element of artificial intelligence/machine learning in almost every Google announcement for the past few years, but this time, you will be sick of the topic when CEO Sundar Pichai leaves the stage.
things begin May 14 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. That’s the big keynote, the one you think about when you think about the event. “Find out how we’re furthering our mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” Google says. It’s the keynote that once involved skydivers buying an innovative piece of augmented reality called Google Glass that we all use every day.
A few hours later, in 1:30 pm PT is the developers’ keynote. Google describes it like this: “Learn about Google’s newest development tools and discover how they drive innovation and improve your productivity.” It can be a bit complicated, especially if you have no development skills to speak of.
For the sake of this article, we will focus on the first.
However, the new Pixel devices will likely not be present at the event. Unlike previous years, when the company spent some time on a new phone, Google spoiled the surprise by revealing the Pixel 8a earlier this week. It was a curious decision, especially considering that the budget device officially starts shipping on the day of the keynote.
While the Pixel Fold was a star of last year’s I/O, the current round of rumors suggests the foldable is on the verge of undergo a major rebrand. Instead of the Pixel Fold 2, we’ll get the much more unwieldy Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It’s such a long name that it needs a scrolling screen to appreciate it. That brand would likely find the device announced in the fall, along with the other Pixel 9s.
Will there be any hardware? Perhaps we will see an update of some previous concepts. For example, what happened to those translation glasses? Or how about Project Starline? I got a demo of the nifty experimental teleconferencing system at last year’s event, but things seem to be quiet in the intervening 12 months.
The Nest line has been neglected for a while now. Perhaps Google has stepped away from the smart home business as it begins to cool down. Or maybe the company is looking for something new. Something we’d love to hear in the press is what the arrival of Google Gemini means for Google Assistant. Does the first directly replace the second? Can they coexist peacefully?
Whether Google addresses the conversation about Assistant, I can say with certainty that Gemini will be the center of attention. The company has a lot riding on its generative AI platform. It will have to prove that it has surpassed its main competitors such as OpenAI’s GPT and Microsoft Copilot. It’s possible we could see a completely new version of Gemini next week. We’ll also see the platform more deeply integrated into services like Maps and Chrome, as well as Android.
A developer preview of Android 15 appeared last month. Google could well offer a deeper dive into its next mobile operating system. Expect to see some key new features for the operating system, which will include deep integration with Gemini.
We’ll no doubt get previews of new versions of other Google platforms, including Wear OS, Android TV, and Android Auto. There will almost certainly be more AI development tools on the docket for the event as well.
Maybe we’ll even get another cameo from our friends on the protest plane. Things start at 10am PT. Can stream the event here and stay tuned to TechCrunch for news as it is released.
