Refresh
Small enhancements for Gemini, in addition to giant ones
Plainly within the close to future, Google will provide Gemini customers on cell a neater technique to open the app full-screen after opening the assistant’s overlay mode, according to developer flags in the Gemini app.
It is nowhere close to as flashy as a number of the issues we count on Google to announce as we speak. However having the ability to correctly learn your chat log with Gemini with out having to shut the overlay after which open the app once more is a great change, should you ask us.
Venture Moohan, revisited
Final December, Samsung announced Project Moohan, a digital actuality headset primarily based on the newly unveiled (on the time) Android XR platform. Since then, it’s been a ready recreation, as Samsung has slowly teased out extra particulars about its headset plans.
For example, we all know the finished product is coming later this year, and a hands-on by Marques Brownlee from January appeared to counsel that AI is very much integrated into the headset. (That will be consistent with final week’s announcement throughout the Android Present about Gemini discovering its approach into extra units.)
Does Samsung get some stage time at a Google occasion to speak about one in all its personal merchandise? It might occur. But it surely appears extra possible that Venture Moohan will get a passing reference, with Google speaking up different units that may profit from Android XR.
Android 16’s arrival
It feels bizarre to be headed right into a Google I/O with the information that Google’s not going to be spending a lot time — if any — on Android. However the bulk of the information appears to have been taken care of final week when Google talked up the interface adjustments coming to Android 16 throughout its Android Present streaming occasion. And if that’s not sufficient for you, the Android 16 beta has already been out in the wild since January, introducing us to such options as dwell updates, adaptive apps and extra.
Actually, at this level, we’re simply ready for a launch date from Google, and that was provided throughout final week’s Android Present — not less than in broad terms. Google’s Sameer Samat stated that Android 16 could be accessible for Pixel units first subsequent month, with availability for different telephones — together with Samsung’s Galaxy S fashions — coming later in the summertime.
Revisiting Venture Astra
Project Astra was the headline-grabbing demo of Google I/O 2024, that includes an AI-powered assistant that was sensible sufficient to each see what you have been seeing and reply to voice instructions. It’s a wonderful instance of multimodal AI, and whereas a few of its options may be present in Gemini Stay, Astra actually is seen as an AI assistant for sensible glasses.
We’re anticipating a Venture Astra replace at this yr’s Google I/O, so it might be price revisiting the 2024 demos that included utilizing the digicam on a telephone to allow the AI assistant to acknowledge objects, reply questions and act upon the info it acknowledged.
Meet Gemini 2.5 Professional
Forward of this week’s Google I/O, we’ve already gotten a touch about not less than one software program replace that ought to get pleasure from some consideration throughout the present. Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview (I/O Edition) debuted earlier this month, with Google prone to clarify extra concerning the replace throughout its I/O convention.
The replace focuses on coding and constructing interactive net apps, in response to Google. Particularly, Google has put the concentrate on coding-based prompts throughout the board, with a particular concentrate on code transformation and enhancing present code.
Given I/O’s developer-centric focus, it wouldn’t be unimaginable that Google would commit a while throughout its I/O keynote to this specific matter.
Google’s Pinterest competitor
In accordance with a report in The Information, Google I/O might see Google introduce us to a brand new service that’s meant to problem Pinterest.
Particularly, Google is supposedly engaged on a service that will let folks see photos associated to vogue or inside design. You’d then be capable of save photos to folders, drawing on them for inspiration in a while.
It’s unclear how shut this Pinterest competitor is to launching — and actually, it doesn’t sound just like the developer-focused announcement Google would make at I/O. However that’s one of many large rumors circulating about this week’s occasion forward of the Tuesday keynote.
Are sensible glasses coming to Google I/O?
With all of the discuss of Venture Astra and Android XR, it feels inevitable that some form of sensible glasses will seem at Google I/O, even when it’s only a demo to indicate off how Google’s AI efforts can work in blended actuality. And Google is doing to tamp down that discuss.
On the finish of final week’s Android Present stream, Android chief Sameer Samat talked about numerous thrilling demos arising at I/O this week… as he very noticeably placed on a pair of sun shades. Since we assume it wasn’t to dam out the glare of the stage lights, we’re going to deal with that as a teaser.
The most recent on WearOS 6
Android might have gotten the main focus eventually week’s Android Present occasion, however Google has different software program platforms, and WearOS is getting some adjustments, too. Google’s smartwatch software program will quickly be up to date, with WearOS 6 boasting a number of noteworthy changes.
- The identical Materials 3 Expressive design coming to Android 16 can be a part of WearOS 6, with scrolling animations that match the curved show of Google’s watches and shape-morphing components that undertake to the watch’s display screen dimension.
- Full-width glanceable buttons stretch throughout the width of the watch show to make them simpler to faucet.
- As a part of Google’s push to increase Gemini past smartphones, the sensible assistant is coming to WearOS so now you can use pure language queries to work together together with your watch.
- A ten% enchancment in battery life is coming due to behind-the-scenes adjustments.
- Dynamic shade theming extends the colour of the watch face throughout the WearOS interface.
NotebookLM hits Android
Google had some product information simply forward of Google I/O. On Monday (Could 19), it introduced iOS and Android versions of NotebookLM, its AI-powered analysis assistant.
In case you’re not aware of it, NotebookLM has the power to course of complicated data, producing outcomes that meticulously sourced. It is able to summarizing lengthy PDFs, pulling key particulars out of your recordsdata, doing side-by-side comparisons of various paperwork and extra. The cell model of NotebookLM places all these capabilities in your Android machine, extending the product’s attain.
An Android 16 want
We do not know what Google has left to say about Android 16 — if it has something to say in any respect within the wake of an entire occasion final week devoted to Android. But when the topic does come up, my colleague John Velasco has a request: he desires to see desktop mode become a permanent fixture for Android.
Samsung presents DeX on its flagship telephones for utilizing your telephone as a laptop computer alternative while you plug it into an exterior monitor. And Pixel telephones have that functionality, too, although it is a bit of a hidden feature on the newest Pixel 9 fashions. However, John argues, it is one thing all Android telephones may benefit from.
Waiting for I/O
Earlier I posted a Google I/O preview, which covers in somewhat extra depth a number of the issues we’re prone to see throughout the keynote. However I additionally wrote concerning the present’s heavy concentrate on AI this yr — not less than, from all outward indicators — and why that is leaving me somewhat cautious.
It is not Google’s fault, actually. However given the industry-wide obsession with AI as of late — and the very excessive hype-to-tangible-benefit ratio — I discover myself considerably numb to the guarantees of what AI can do for me. That very true after the options which have labored their technique to me might impress in some instances, however they have not actually impacted my daily use of know-how in any important approach.
I needn’t see a breakthrough in that regard at Google I/O. However I’m hoping Google spends extra time explaining the potential advantages of the know-how it is exhibiting off as a substitute of simply specializing in the wow issue.
Dropping hints
Having a deep assume… pic.twitter.com/oZPH2jAWyVMay 20, 2025
On Monday night, Google CEO Sundar Pichai took to X to tease out the Google I/O keynote that is just a few hours away. The image options Pichai standing on the stage of the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View — the setting for the keynote — together with Demis Hassabis, CEO at Google DeepMind.
In case the AI heavy implications of that picture weren’t sufficient for you, Pichai added a none-too-subtle message — “Having a deep assume.” If it hadn’t been earlier than, it’s totally clear that AI could be very a lot on the thoughts of Google executives heading into I/O.
Gemini’s attain is rising
One factor we already know headed into Google I/O — Gemini goes to seek out its approach onto much more units than simply your telephone.
That was a spotlight of final week’s Android Present, the place Google executives outlined plans to bring the Gemini assistant to devices like smartwatches, TVs, vehicles and headsets.
That final product is especially related if, as anticipated, Android XR turns into a spotlight at this yr’s I/O. The way in which google sees it, its AI can create a extra customized, immersive expertise if paired with headsets and glasses working on Android XR. The instance cited by Google revolves round trip planning — whereas carrying an Android XR machine, you may ask Gemini for assist researching a visit, and the outcomes of that search from photographs to resort particulars to potential experiences can float up earlier than you.
There isn’t any telling if we’ll see a demo like that in motion at I/O, however I would definitely rely on Google increasing about using Gemini on units apart from smartphones.
