Google I/O 2026, the annual developer conference, is expected to launch Geminiversionwhich is smarter, featuring cognitive systems that assist humans, along with Android 17 that introduces new features.
Google’s largest annual software developer conference, known as Google I/O 2026, will officially begin on 19 May local U.S. time, corresponding to midnight on 20 May in Thailand.
This year’s key highlight remains artificial intelligence, which is increasingly integrated into daily life through upgrades to operating systems on desktops, wearables, and the expanding Android ecosystem.
The main attraction is the major upgrade to Gemini, which is expected to debut new capabilities as a Proactive Agent under the codename"Remy"named after the rat character from the animated film"Ratatouille."It will have automation features such as responding to emails and scheduling appointments automatically, without users needing to input commands in advance.
Additionally, the model is expected to be upgraded to a new generation with amodernized interfacethat supports processing larger data sets and is a fully multimodal model capable of handling text, images, sound, code, video, and music all within a single prompt. There may also be a majorapp interfacerevamp on iOS.
On the hardware and operating system front, the official launch of smart glasses under the Android XR platform is anticipated, possibly unveiling Project Aura in collaboration with the XReal brand, along with partnerships with fashion brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Also expected is the debut of Aluminum OS, a desktop operating system fully based on Android, designed for new laptop series such as Googlebooks.
Although many key features of Android 17 were previewed last week at The Android Show, such asenhanced security tools that block scam calls in real time,Google I/O is expected to reinforce the transition from traditional smartphone operating systems toward a Gemini-centered AI-driven platform.
Meanwhile, Google CEO Sundar Pichai indicated that further details might be revealed about an AI mode for Google Search powered by the new TPU chipset, as well as the launch of a new Google Home smart speaker, which has been long rumored.