Google I/O 2025: What to expect, including updates to Gemini and Android 16

Google I/O, the tech giant's premier developer conference, is just around the corner, set to take place on May 20 to 21 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. This event promises a packed schedule with product announcements spanning Google's entire ecosystem. From Android to Chrome, Google Search, YouTube, and of course, the AI-powered chatbot Gemini, there's a lot to look forward to.

Gemini and AI

AI is the buzzword in tech right now, and Google is no stranger to this trend. They've been pouring resources into AI development, and at I/O, we can expect to see new additions to the Gemini family of AI models. Rumors are swirling about an updated Gemini Ultra model, which is the cream of the crop in Google's AI lineup.

This new Gemini Ultra might come with a heftier price tag, as Google currently offers a single premium tier, Gemini Advanced, at $20 per month. However, whispers suggest that two new plans, Premium Plus and Premium Pro, could be on the horizon. It's still a mystery what extra perks these plans will offer and how they'll stack up price-wise against Gemini Advanced.

Google is also likely to delve into Astra, their ambitious project to create AI apps and "agents" that can handle real-time, multimodal tasks. And don't be surprised if Project Mariner gets some airtime. This is Google's initiative to develop AI "agents" that can surf the web and take actions for users. Some eagle-eyed folks on social media have spotted hints about "Computer Use" in the code for Google's AI Studio developer platform, which might just relate to Mariner.

Android 16

For the first time ever, Google is hosting a separate event just for Android updates called The Android Show, happening a week before I/O on Tuesday. The star of the show will be Android 16, which is expected to bring some nifty improvements.

Android 16 is set to enhance notifications and introduce a fresh design language, Material 3 Expressive. According to a leaked blog post, this new design is a complete overhaul, aiming for better responsiveness and more eye-catching "action elements."

This version of Android seems to be all about making life easier for users. It'll support Auracast, simplifying the switch between Bluetooth devices, and introduce lock screen widgets along with a host of new accessibility features.

Google might also shine a light on the latest in Android XR, their mixed reality operating system, and Wear OS, the software that powers their wearables.

Everything Else

Looking at the official I/O schedule, it's clear Google has a lot on its plate beyond The Android Show and the keynote addresses. There are sessions lined up for Chrome and Google Cloud, Google Play, Android development tools, and Gemma, Google's suite of "open" AI models.

Last year, Google threw a few AI-themed curveballs at I/O, like the LearnLM models tailored for educational use. This year, we might see an enhanced version of their viral podcast-generating tool, NotebookLM. Leaked code has also hinted at a "Video Overviews" feature, which could generate video summaries, possibly using Google's Veo 2 video-generating model.