You only need two letters to describe best the latest iteration of Google’s big yearly developer shebang: AI. That’s right; GoogleI/O has touched on a slew of new features coming to the Mountainview company’s software ecosystem, specifically what could be coming to the still-in-beta Android 15. A big chunk of these updates announced on Day 1 centered on improvements to Gemini that will put AI front and center across every Android and every time you do a Google Search.
Gemini, first announced at last year’s I/O, is getting far more entrenched on existing and future Pixel phones. Soon, users will be able to access Gemini as an overlay on top of any app, which will allow them to import AI-generated text or pictures. More capabilities are coming to Circle to Search and Gemini Nano, which should make both more capable of reading and understanding text, pictures, or audio.
For those tired of AI’s constant hammering (AI was mentioned 121 times in the keynote alone), Google’s showcase won’t leave you very happy. Still, at the very least, you might find one or two new features amid the clutter that could be useful in your regular day-to-day use.
On day 2 of Google I/O, the focus turned toward its Android ecosystem, particularly Android 15 and Watch OS 5, plus a little bit of Android Auto and Google TV sprinkled in. The big new updates coming for Android 15 that don’t specifically mention AI include a host of new safety features for phones and a new way to add barcodes and QR codes to your wallet. Wear OS 5 is set to be a big one, too, with big enhancements to battery life plus more options for granular ways for apps to track your workout activities.
