Android is getting its greatest visible replace in years, and reasonably than unveiling it for the primary time at its huge annual developer convention, Google introduced Materials Three Expressive at a pre-show occasion broadcast on YouTube the week earlier than. If a significant design language shift for the world’s hottest cell OS doesn’t qualify as a headliner at I/O, then what does? You guessed it: AI.
We count on Google to speak all about Gemini throughout I/O, which kicks off on Tuesday, and the way it’s enhancing it and bringing it to merchandise in areas that customers will see much more.
For those who’ve paid consideration to the previous couple of I/O keynotes, this gained’t be a shock. Android was barely talked about in 2023, and CEO Sundar Pichai stated AI so many instances that we misplaced rely. Final 12 months’s keynote was extra of the identical, besides that Pichai saved us some hassle and counted mentions of AI for us. All of this displays the very apparent, inescapable shift that Google and each different tech firm have made not too long ago to pump out AI options at a breakneck tempo.
However in a method, much less information in regards to the latest Android OS at I/O is definitely a very good factor.
Google has made a giant effort in recent times to carry new options to extra telephones — even when they aren’t operating the newest OS. Corporations like Samsung and Motorola roll out new OS variations on their very own schedules, so including new options by way of Google Play and app updates means they’ll attain folks sooner. One key criticism of Android in earlier years was sluggish characteristic rollouts that always completely failed to achieve many customers. Google additionally adopted a brand new schedule this 12 months for Android 16, shifting to a significant launch in Q2 and a minor launch in This fall, which ought to assist extra units benefit from new options.
If this 12 months’s I/O actually is an AI present, then there’s a threat it’s going to really feel like one we’ve seen earlier than.
The previous two years of software program and {hardware} from seemingly each client tech firm have been continuous AI pep rallies. We’ve seen numerous previews of options which are supposedly simply across the nook. Then, when it’s time to really ship them… effectively, ask Apple how that’s going.
To Google’s credit score, it has actually shipped a number of AI options. The corporate has numerous surfaces for it, too — from the XR platform we’re anticipating to listen to extra about (that’s the glasses it has teased a number of instances), to Chrome, Gmail, and Meet. There’s numerous floor to cowl.
I get the sensation, although, that we’re reaching a tipping level, one the place guarantees of on a regular basis and energy that AI will save us are sporting a bit of skinny. But when nothing else, I respect that Google went out of its technique to give Android time to shine earlier than the massive present — reasonably than relegating it to a handful of mentions between AI characteristic updates.
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