Google’s annual I/O developer conference returned on May 19, 2026, with a keynote that once again centered on artificial intelligence. The event featured a broad range of announcements spanning new AI models, hardware partnerships, and major updates to core services like Search, Gmail, and Workspace. For those who missed the livestream, here is a comprehensive breakdown of the 13 biggest reveals from Google I/O 2026.

Gemini 3.5

Google introduced the next generation of its language models with Gemini 3.5, starting with Gemini 3.5 Flash as the immediate release. The model becomes the default for the Gemini app and AI Mode in Search. Google claims it is significantly faster, more capable in agentic tasks, and offers improved coding abilities. It also generates richer web UIs and graphics. Safety guardrails have been enhanced to reduce harmful outputs and false positives on safe queries. Gemini 3.5 Pro is scheduled to launch in the following month, promising even greater performance.

Alongside the model, Google rolled out a visual redesign for the Gemini app called “neural expressive.” This includes new animations, color accents, a fresh font, and haptic feedback. The update went live on May 19 across web, Android, and iOS.

Gemini Omni

Beyond the Gemini 3.5 family, Google announced an entirely new model family called Gemini Omni. The first variant, Omni Flash, becomes available immediately in the Gemini app, Google Flow, and YouTube Shorts. Its standout feature is the ability to generate video clips from prompts that combine text, photos, video, and audio—unlike Google’s Veo model, which only accepts text. Google envisions Omni eventually being able to create any type of content from any input modality.

Gemini Spark

Billed as Google’s answer to OpenAI’s Operator (or similar persistent agents), Gemini Spark is an always-on AI agent powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash. It runs 24/7 on virtual machines in Google Cloud and can connect to Google Workspace apps like Docs, Gmail, Sheets, and Slides, as well as third-party services such as Canva and Instacart. Spark can handle tasks like writing emails, creating study guides, and monitoring for hidden credit card fees. Future plans include access to local files through the Gemini app on macOS.

Vibe-Coding Android Apps in AI Studio

Google AI Studio now enables users to build fully native Android apps using natural language prompts. The feature includes an embedded Android emulator for previewing apps, and users can plug in a phone to install apps directly for testing. Completed apps can be exported to Android Studio, GitHub, or saved as ZIP files. Google will soon allow publishing to the Play Store, with an option to limit distribution to friends and family. Firebase integration is also planned.

Project Aura Smart Glasses

Google showed an updated version of its Project Aura smart glasses, developed in collaboration with Xreal. The external compute puck has been redesigned and now includes a fingerprint sensor and a lanyard. New features include widgets for display glasses, Gemini integrations with Google Calendar and Google Keep, and improved Gemini performance. The glasses represent Google’s continued push into augmented reality wearables.

New Android XR Glasses from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster

Two new pairs of Android XR smart glasses are coming this fall, designed in partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Unlike Project Aura, these are audio-only glasses without a display, similar to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. They will support live translation, navigation assistance with Gemini, and notification summaries. The partnerships were announced at I/O 2025, and this year brought the first look at the final designs.

Google Universal Cart

Google launched a “Universal Cart” that lets users add products from YouTube, Search, Gemini, and Gmail. The intelligent shopping cart works across multiple merchants including Nike, Target, Walmart, Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Wayfair, and Shopify. Users can combine items from different stores and check out in a single transaction. The cart also flags potential issues like incompatible parts for a gaming PC and interprets loyalty info from Google Wallet to maximize savings. Universal Cart arrives in Search and Gemini this summer, with YouTube and Gmail support coming later.

Gmail Live

Gmail is getting a voice-driven search feature called Gmail Live, based on the Gemini Live experience. Users click an icon in the search bar and ask questions by voice. Instead of displaying a list of emails, the system extracts and delivers relevant information directly—for example, pulling up a hotel confirmation code without sifting through threads. Similar voice AI will come to Google Docs and Keep, pulling data from Drive and Gmail.

Google Workspace Pics

A new app called Pics enters Google Workspace, designed for iterative AI image editing. Powered by Nano Banana 2 and Gemini, Pics lets users click on a part of an image and leave a comment describing the edit, avoiding the need for long prompts. Google plans to integrate Pics capabilities into other Workspace apps over time.

Search Upgrades: Agents, Generative UI, Mini Apps

The Google Search box is expanding to accommodate longer queries and offering AI-generated suggestions. Users can now search with text, images, files, videos, and Chrome tabs. “Information agents” provide summarized updates on topics by pulling from blogs, news, and social media—launching this summer for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. A new “generative UI” feature can create visuals like simulations, interactive tables, and graphs, and Search can generate custom “mini apps” for recurring tasks, such as an event-planning dashboard.

AI Ultra Price Cut

Google reduced the price of its premium AI Ultra subscription from $249.99 per month to a starting tier of $100 per month, with a $200 option that includes access to Project Genie. The move aligns with pricing from competitors like OpenAI and makes advanced AI capabilities more accessible.

AI Detection Tools in Chrome and Search

To help users identify AI-generated or altered images, Google expanded its detection tools. Uploading or selecting online images in Search—including via Google Lens and Circle to Search—now reveals provenance details using SynthID watermarking and C2PA Content Credentials. Future Chrome functionality will allow users to circle questionable images on websites to see their origin.

AI Agents for Google Beam

Google is experimenting with lifelike AI agents for its Beam platform (formerly Project Starline). An early demo showcased Sophie, a Beam video agent that can answer questions, read documents held up to a camera, and look up recommendations. Google also demonstrated group calls using Beam, which will integrate with Google Meet and Zoom. The technology aims to make AI interactions feel more personal, though Beam itself remains a high-end product with a $25,000 HP Dimension system.

Source: The Verge News