Google I/O 2024: follow the conference live on Android 15, the new AI features from Gemini and the Google Pixel

Google I/O is a conference that Google organizes every year in order to present to the general public and especially to developers the new features to come throughout the year. This is a sort of road map.

Last year, Google focused mainly on AI in order to catch up with ChatGPT. For an hour and a half, the American giant presented in detail Google Bard, now “Gemini”. It will undoubtedly be the same today. In addition to this vast subject, Google should also tell us about Android 15, WatchOS, Google TV, its future smartphones and other devices.

The conference takes place this Tuesday, May 14, 2024 and will be broadcast live from 7 p.m. (French time). It should last about two hours, based on last year’s. We will follow it with you in order to share all the announcements to remember live.

What can we expect from Google IO 2024 in terms of AI?

If the announcements promise to be varied during Google IO 2024, the emphasis will clearly be placed on AI. An area where Google still lags behind compared to OpenAI and its ChatGPT4. The Mountain View firm is determined to win this race with its own generative artificial intelligence platform, namely Gemini. This is regularly improved thanks to different updates and features. On the other hand, many of them remain reserved for American users. Something that should gradually change…

Even better, Gemini will undoubtedly be increasingly integrated into the many services offered by Google, such as Drive, Gmail, Maps, etc.. And this, whether to simplify tasks or offer new ways of using these services. Likewise, Gemini seems clearly destined to replace Google Assistant. Launched in 2016, this smart assistant is long outdated. Its replacement by Gemini now seems obvious. Google I/O could not only confirm it but above all specify a date.

Google should also take advantage of this to develop Google Chrome, its main Source of income. This search engine, which is already the most used in the world (with 57.52% market share in 2024), would thus become even more intelligent. In addition to referring to a selection of sites, Google Chrome would offer a direct response to your query. This experimental version was already presented last year and has been in testing ever since.

Android 15 presented for Google I/O?

If AI will undoubtedly occupy a major place in the Google conference, the firm should still say a few words about Android 15 which is already being tested in Beta. Among the most widespread rumors, this mobile operating system would come with several new features such as satellite messaging, optimization of storage space to automatically archive rarely used applications, better performance and battery management, the appearance of widgets on the lock screen, a private space to hide applications, etc.

Android 15 would likely be deployed during the start of the 2024 school year with compatible smartphones. It will also undoubtedly accompany the Pixel 9 range.

The future of Wear OS

Google’s operating system dedicated to connected watches, namely Wear OS, also promises to evolve with the imminent arrival of Wear OS 5. Google even teases this part of the conference called: “Building the future of Wear OS”:

“In this presentation, we’ll learn about new features in Wear OS 5. This includes advancements in the Watch Face form factor and how to design and build for a growing range of device sizes.”

We will learn more about the new features that Wear OS 5 will offer, which is notably expected on the Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung’s next connected watches. From what we know, these improvements concern in particular the Watch Face format, which is designed to make connected watch faces more dynamic and effective.

This announcement also goes in the direction of rumors suggesting the appearance of a new size for the Pixel Watch. The Pixel Watch 3 would thus have a larger 45mm variant. In any case, Google’s new connected watch should be introduced during Google I/O.

New Google Pixels announced during Google IO?

Google surprised us by formalizing the Google Pixel 8a, its mid-range smartphone, last week without waiting for Google I/O. We already know everything about him! The Mountain View firm should logically not talk about it this evening and above all focus on everything related to its advances in AI.

See the Google Pixel 8a in pre-order at Fnac

However, Google could briefly tease its Google Pixel 9, especially since a persistent rumor predicts the appearance of a third Pixel 9. This way we would have a Pixel 9, a Pixel 9 Pro and a Pixel 9 Pro XL.

If Google is not expected to expand on the Google Pixel 9, there is a greater chance that the company will present a Pixel Fold 2. As a reminder, Google’s first foldable smartphone, intended to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, was presented at Google IO last year. However, this was not marketed in France. We can only hope that the Pixel Fold 2 benefits from different treatment.

”’In addition to its smartphones, there is a good chance that Google will present its Pixel Tablet 2, the first of the name having been unveiled during Google IO in 2023.

Virtual reality at Google

Although virtual reality is a perilous field where even Apple is struggling to establish itself with its Vision Pro, Google is determined to do well. And while Meta refused a partnership aimed at integrating Android XR into reality headsets virtual Meta Quest, Google is now banking on its partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm.

Android XR, Google’s extended reality initiative, aims to unify the development of extended reality (XR) through a dedicated operating system and application store. Furthermore, Google is working closely with key partners such as Qualcomm and Samsung to develop XR headsets compatible with Android XR.

For the moment, Android XR has not yet been officially presented, something that could happen during Google I/O.

New features to expect in terms of TV with Google TV

Google also promises to tell us about its Google TV and Android TV operating system as evidenced by this presentation: “Discover the new improvements to the user experience in Google TV and the latest additions to the next update of the Android TV OS platform. Learn how the updated developer tools in Compose for TV and Android Studio make it easier than ever to create great TV apps. »