Google I/O 2026 live: Gemini Intelligence, Android XR and more AI expected

At a glance:

• Google I/O 2026 kicks off Tuesday with keynote at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. BST)
• Expected announcements include Gemini Intelligence, Android XR, and Google Health integrations
• New details about Googlebooks (Android-powered laptops) and Android 17 with AI features may be revealed

What to expect at Google I/O 2026

Google's annual developer conference kicks off Tuesday, and we'll be bringing you updates straight from the event. The keynote at 10 a.m. PT is likely to unveil the company's next wave of AI announcements along with other software efforts coming to phones, laptops and wearable platforms like glasses. In this live blog, we'll be counting down all the rumors and announcements we hope to see in the lead-up to this developer conference, and once Tuesday's event kicks off, we'll provide live coverage of the keynote from our ground team.

CNET editors will bring live reactions to Google's announcements, and you can join our live Google I/O watch party hosted by CNET Editor at Large Andrew Lanxon and PCMag Senior Writer Andrew Gebhart. The conference follows up from last week's Android Show, where Google unveiled several new Android and Gemini features that set the stage for what might be revealed at I/O.

Google Health and the Fitbit transformation

Earlier this month, Google transformed the Fitbit app into Google Health while debuting the displayless Fitbit Air fitness tracker. The announcements made clear how Google plans to integrate Gemini into its health-tracking product, while also creating a competitor against the more expensive Whoop band. While I/O is unlikely to show off more products that would tie into Google Health, the company might use the developer conference to show more ways that Google Health is set up to integrate with other services.

Google already announced that the new Health app will link with services like Apple Health, along with medical records, and the I/O developer conference could provide a larger look at other ways the company plans to offer AI coaching. All the while, privacy will likely remain a high priority as these ambitions develop, as health data is by nature quite sensitive. This represents Google's continued push into the health and wellness space with AI-powered personalization.

Googlebooks: The next generation of Android laptops

As part of last week's Android Show, Google unveiled Googlebooks as the next generation of laptops powered by the company's services. While no devices were announced, Googlebooks look to be an Android-powered successor to Chromebooks that will heavily feature Gemini's AI capabilities. This represents a significant shift in Google's approach to computing platforms, moving beyond ChromeOS to a more integrated Android experience.

While last week's reveal marked the debut of Googlebooks, Google I/O might include more details about the company's plans for this newer desktop operating system. The timing suggests Google is positioning itself to compete more directly with Apple's macOS and Microsoft Windows in the laptop space, leveraging its Android ecosystem and AI capabilities to differentiate its offering. Developers will likely be watching closely for development tools and compatibility information.

Android 17 and Gemini Intelligence

Google I/O will kick off a week after the company showed several new Android and Gemini features at this year's Android Show. Many of these AI-related announcements included the ability to command Gemini to book appointments on your behalf, an enhanced auto-fill that can pull your personal information from other places on your phone and the ability to create your own custom widgets that can automatically refresh with new information as needed.

While we expect Google to make more Android announcements over the course of the I/O conference, the show provides an initial jumpstart to the changes we'll see when Android 17 launches later this year. The integration of Gemini throughout the Android ecosystem represents Google's commitment to making AI more accessible and useful in everyday tasks, potentially setting new standards for smartphone functionality across the industry.

The competitive landscape: Google vs Apple

This week is about Google's developer conference, but Apple is making news with an announcement about its equivalent show, WWDC. The company on Monday announced its WWDC 2026 schedule, including its own keynote on June 8 at 10 a.m. PT. This timing creates an interesting dynamic in the tech industry, with Google setting the stage for AI developments in May and Apple following up in June.

For those who like to speculate on the graphics that Apple creates for these events, the WWDC 2026 logo appears to be the one from its Swift Playground programming tool, with a metallic, reflective look. Maybe it's meant to evoke the Liquid Glass theme? Regardless, the back-to-back nature of these major tech conferences will undoubtedly create buzz and speculation about what each company will reveal in their respective AI and software strategies.