Google I/O 2026: Gemini updates, Android 17, Android XR Glasses and what to expect from the company’s annual event

Google I/O 2026, the company’s annual developer conference, will take place on May 19, with the company expected to announce a bunch of products, updates to its AI models, the next generation of “Agentic AI” and a major push into wearable hardware. While the tech giant has spent recent years embedding AI into every corner of its ecosystem, 2026 is shaping up to be the year that AI moves beyond the screen and into the physical world.

The rise of the ‘AI Agent’

It is highly likely that the star of the show will be Gemini. It remains to be seen whether Google unveils Gemini 4.0 or updates to Gemini 3.0 – the focus will be on the Agentic AI. Unlike standard chatbots, these AI agents are designed to perform complex tasks on a user’s behalf, which include navigating a computer or managing workflows, with minimal human supervision.

Google may also showcase updates to its specialised AI creative tools.

• Veo and Lyria: New capabilities for AI-generated video and high-fidelity music.
• Beam: A 3D video conferencing tool that makes remote participants appear as lifelike 3D models.
• Gemini Notebooks: According to CNN, an expansion of the “source-of-truth” database feature that allows users to sync research directly with NotebookLM for interactive charts and video overviews.

Android 17 and ‘The Android Show’

In a strategic move to keep the main keynote focused on AI, Google is hosting “The Android Show” on May 12, one week prior to I/O.

Android 17 is currently in its fourth beta, which is commonly viewed as the “almost final” release before Google starts rolling out the stable version to smartphones. While the update features several refinements, the standout feature so far is “App Bubbles,” which allows users to float any application in a window for better multitasking.

These software updates set the stage for the next “Made by Google” hardware event, typically held in August.

Android XR Glasses

Perhaps the most anticipated product that Google may unveil Android XR. After a decade-long pause following the original Google Glass, Google is ready to return to smart glasses. Unlike their bulky predecessor, the new Android XR glasses are expected to look like traditional eyewear while packed with features like:

• Live Translation: Real-time subtitles for conversations.
• Heads-up notifications: Alerts that stay in your line of sight.
• Gemini Live: A conversational voice interface for hands-free help.

With Samsung already utilising the Android XR platform for its headsets, Google I/O is expected to provide final hardware specs, pricing tiers, and an official release date for Google's own branded eyewear.

Aluminum OS

Google has already confirmed that it is merging Android and ChromeOS, which may be called Aluminum OS. This new operating system would bring the vast Android app library to laptops with a full-scale Chrome browsing experience.

CNN reports that analysts suggest this could mark the return of Google-branded laptops, potentially in the form of a new “Pixelbook,” creating a link between mobile phones and computers like in an ecosystem.