The annual Google I/O developer conference is being held by Google, and it is only fitting that artificial intelligence (AI) will take centre stage. Since the I/O last year, it has unveiled Gemini, a new, powerful model designed to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and it has been extensively exploring new capabilities for Android, Google Maps, and Search. On Tuesday, May 14th, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET, a keynote address will begin Google I/O. Watch that live on Google’s website or its YouTube channel.
AI will be the main focus of this year’s I/O, according to Google. Both Gemini and the company’s smaller Gemma model have been available for a few months now, however not without controversy. Most likely, a large portion of the presentation will discuss how Google is combining generative AI with search. The business has been developing additional search functions, such as image generation for shopping and virtual try-ons, as well as AI conversation practice for English language learners.
Likely, Google will also highlight its intentions to make your smartphone more of an AI device. This implies that Google apps will have more generative AI features. AI functions that assist with dining, shopping, or locating EV chargers in Google Maps, for example, have been under development. Additionally, Google is testing a function that calls a company and waits on hold for you until a real person answers the phone.
A new, more intimate iteration of I/O’s digital assistant, dubbed “Pixie,” may also make its debut. Expected multimodal functions of the Gemini-powered assistant include taking images of products to find out how to use them or getting instructions to a store where they may be purchased.
Devices like the Rabbit R1 and the Human AI Pin, which both just launched and had difficulty justifying their existence, may suffer from that kind of thing. As of right now, the only real benefit they may have is that utilizing a smartphone as an AI wearable is rather difficult, but still doable.
Given that the Pixel 8A is currently available for preorder and that you can now get a relaunched, cheaper Pixel Tablet that is identical to the original save for the magnetic speaker dock, which is now an additional purchase, it seems unlikely that Google would concentrate much on new hardware this year. It is still possible for the corporation to tease upcoming products like the Pixel Tablet 2 and the Pixel 9, which are leaking everywhere now in true Google fashion.
The search engine behemoth may also discuss the Pixel Fold’s successor, which is expected to receive a dramatic makeover as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
