Google I/O 2024 is starting very soon, so if you want a look at all the new things coming to Google's many software platforms (plus some forward-thinking vaporware here and there), it'll be worth tuning in.
The big day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14 at 10am PST (1pm ET / 6pm BST) and will continue into the next day. The keynote address will be presented by CEO Sundar Pichai at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. It will be broadcast in front of a live studio audience and of course everyone will be able to watch the event as it unfolds via live stream.
No one knows exactly what will be revealed at Google I/O 2024 and the rumor mills have been unusually quiet. AI, and in particular Google Gemini, will most likely be the star of the show, especially since OpenAI is hosting an event the day before, on May 13.
But we can also expect to hear a lot from Android 15, as well as demos of new features like Google Maps, Google Lens, Google Photos, and more. Here's how to tune into Google I/O 2024 and everything we hope to see…
Come to the point
- What is it? Google's big annual software fair
- When is? may 14
Google I/O 2024: when are the dates?
On March 15, Google announced that Goole I/O 2024 would take place on Tuesday, May 14 at 10 am PST (1 pm ET / 6 pm BST) and continue until the next day.
To hear all the big software announcements, from Google Gemini to Android 15, you can tune into the keynote on YouTube; We have included the placeholder video below.
The rest of the show will be live keynotes and demos for Google developers, for everything from ChromeOS to in-car experiences, but if you're not a registered attendee, you'll also be able to watch these videos after the event.
Online registration for the event is open and free to all. It allows you to stay up to date on the schedule and the content that will appear. However, please note that signing up will require you to create a developer profile for Google.
What to expect at Google I/O 2024
Big Gemini Updates
The most obvious choice here is artificial intelligence. Although we're only five months in, 2024 has been a big year for Google AI.
We saw the launch of Gemini models, the brand's own LLM, as well as the rebranding of several other AIs under the Gemini name. Expect to see multiple demonstrations of what the technology will be able to do in the near future. We could also find out more information about the mysterious Gemma, which will be the open source version of the older brother Gemini.
Pichar, or one of the hosts, may talk about how to improve the performance of your AI. If you don't know, Gemini has had some issues lately regarding, say, inaccurate depictions of ethnic groups. Furthermore, hallucinations remain a problem.
A full debut for Android 15
We've already seen the arrival of the Google Pixel 8a, which landed last week on the same day as the new Apple iPad Pro (2024) and iPad Air 6: good timing, Google.
That means the biggest smartphone news will likely be a full bow for Android 15. The Android 15 developer preview was released in mid-February, giving the world its first chance to get its hands on the upcoming operating system.
We now know a lot more about Android 15, from its design features like a revamped status bar to the potential for a supercharged dark mode that forces all apps to support it.
But there's a lot more to learn about the new operating system, so if you want a taste of what's coming to your phone, it'll be worth tuning in: the final version of Android 15 probably won't arrive until between August and October. .
What else could you release?
We'll almost certainly see new AI and Android 15 developments at Google I/O 2024, but elsewhere we're in speculation territory.
For example, we could see the reveal of new hardware like the Pixel Watch 3, but don't hold your breath. As our sister site Tom's Guide points out, the Pixel Watch 2 was not announced at I/O 2023; instead, it was unveiled during the Made By Google event in October.
The same goes for the Pixel Tablet 2. The company will probably save that for another day. In any case, I/O 2024 will include minor changes to other Google products. New Workspace tools, new Android 15 features, things of that nature. Nothing too crazy. It will be Gemini's sunny day.
There are still two months left. In the meantime, check out TechRadar's list of the best Pixel phones for 2024.
