Google I/O 2024: Live blog and everything you need to know

Initially, we expected to see Google introduce some new hardware at I/O 2024, namely the Pixel 8a. However, it seems that the company had other ideas as the Pixel 8a has already been announced. 

We're still working through our full review, but you can check out Nick's initial impressions here. In that same vein, Nick gives us his take as to whether you should upgrade to the Pixel 8a, or stick with last year's Pixel 7a. If you decide to take the plunge, there are plenty of Pixel 8a deals to be found, and in some cases, you can even get Google's latest phone for free!

Since we aren't expecting much on the hardware front, we have to assume that Google will put all (or most) of its focus on software. This includes things such as Gemini, and how Google plans to further integrate it into our daily lives.

However, it will be interesting to see if and how Google responds to OpenAI's introduction of the new GPT-4o model. This new GPT model is capable of providing "reason across audio, vision, and text in real time." OpenAI showed off a few rather impressive demos and has already made GPT-4o available. 

Although Google hasn't made any official announcements just yet, the company has started giving us a few teasers. One of which comes from Logan Kilpatrick, the "Lead Product for Google AI Studio." In a post on X, Kilpatrick shares a conversation with a Pixel asking it "Hey, what do you think's happening here?"

What makes this exciting is that the conversation is being had while Gemini is using the rear camera to see what's being asked about. Gemini responds stating "It looks like people are setting up for a large event." Kilpatrick then asks "Those big pretty letters on screen, what do those mean." Gemini responds stating "Those letters represent Google I/O, a developer conference held by Google."

It's clear that the personal AI race is heating up, and while OpenAI might have seemingly taken a leap forward, Google isn't just going to sit idly by. 

Google I/O 2024 is almost here! We've got boots on the ground in Mountain View, and we plan to let you know about everything that Google has to announce during its yearly developer conference. 

It should come as little surprise that we're going to hear a lot about improvements to Gemini, especially following OpenAI's announcement of GPT-4o. While it definitely seems as though Google is hoping to replace Assistant with Gemini, there's still a bit of work to be done. 

If you want to get caught up on what OpenAI announced, our own Brady Snyder explains why Google, Humane, and Rabbit "should be scared." 

We'll touch a bit more on Android 15 in a bit, but it's definitely going to be interesting to see what Google brings to the table with Wear OS 5. What's a bit unclear is whether this new version will introduce another overhaul of the platform or not. While Google recently announced its new Wear OS Hybrid Interface, our resident wearable guru, Michael Hicks, hopes for something a bit different. 

It's already been confirmed that the Google Fit API will be shutting down next year, but what does this mean for the standalone Google Fit app? Michael writes "Yes, the Google Fit app is still available, but the writing is on the wall for the app to get the boot now that Google has turned its attention to Fitbit."

If Google Fit is on the doorstep of the Google Graveyard, now's the time for a new "universal" fitness tracking app for the Wear OS platform. 

When it comes to being productive from your smartphone, Samsung DeX is easily the best all-in-one solution. While Google is finally putting work into its own Desktop Mode, the company might have another trick up its sleeve. 

A recent report reveals that Google is "toying with the idea of running ChromeOS on Android phones and even recently demoed the functionality." You can probably throw this one in the "not going to happen" category of I/O 2024 announcements, but it would be absolutely wild if Google surprised us all. 

We've often wondered what it would be like to plug your Pixel into an external display and were greeted with ChromeOS. At the very least, Google has wondered the same, and now we just have to hope that it actually comes to fruition.

Hi everyone ! We are on the ground and ready for I/O 2024! We already know the 8a has been announced which is an interesting move by Google

Let’s see what we have in store for today !

This Dj is fun! But dang, what coffee did he have and can I have some of it?

If you're liking what you're hearing on stage, and want to try your hand at creating your own music, Google's made its MusicFX tool available for everyone! All you need to do is sign in with your Google account, enter a prompt, and get the beats rolling!

• Google MusicFX

From Brady Snyder our freelancer : “I just wanna know how we are going to pivot from this DJ to talking about AI”

Sundar is figuring out how to match the same energy as the DJ and of course he had to say something about Taylor Swift.

Jerry says "I notice he started telling us that Google has been investing in AI and it's infrastructure for over a decade."

The first announcement of the day comes in the form of AI Overviews, as Sundar confirms this will be coming to the U.S. this week and more regions "soon."

Gemini 1.5 Pro is now coming to both developers and consumers, while also being available in more than 30 languages. Plus, developers will soon enjoy an improved 2 Million token limit with Gemini Advanced Pro.

Google Photos is getting even more AI-infusion as there's a new "Ask Photos" feature. You'll be able to search your entire Google Photos library to find something specific, even if it's a license plate number.

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, takes to the stage to announce Gemini 1.5 Flash, along with Project Astra. The latter is a "universal AI agent helpful in everyday life." 

After showing a video demo'ing Project Astra, Google announces this multi-modal feature is coming to the Gemini app later this year. But, it looks pretty darn similar to what OpenAI announced with GPT-4o. 

Imagen 3 is more photo-realistic, offering unedited raw output, and "understands prompts written the way that people write." It also "remembers to incorporate small details." You can sign up to try out Imagen 3 in ImageFX, as part of the labs.google suite of AI tools. 

Generative video models are picking up steam, as Google Veo has been announced as the latest competitor to OpenAI's Sora. Unlike Sora, you can sign up for the waitlist to try out Veo using VideoFX at labs.google.

Multi-step reasoning is coming to Google Search, parsing your query and providing even more relevant results. Google is hoping to cut down on the "minutes or hours" of research that it takes for us to find answers to various questions. 

If you're looking to learn more about what other AI features Google is introducing, along with what it means for you, then you're in luck! Here are some of the highlights of what's to come.

Circle to Search is a big update, letting you circle a math problem and getting a response within seconds. This functionality is available starting today, but Google plans to integrate more complex equations later this year. 

Dave Burke is now on stage showing us the different ways that you can use Gemini right from the Google Messages app on a Pixel 8a. It includes being able to analyze a PDF or video and ask Gemini questions, getting clear (and cited) responses. These features are coming to more devices "in the coming months."

Gemini Nano with Multimodality will "understand the world the way that you do," including "sights, sounds, and spoken language." All of this is made possible by the on-device AI co-processor on Pixel phones. 

When showing off the new Gemini features, we noticed that Burke is wearing a ring. Could it be the Galaxy Ring? Or maybe, just maybe, a Pixel Ring?!?

In case you were wondering, AI was referenced a total of 121 times throughout the event. That's quite a drinking game. 

And that's all she wrote! 

Although we're a little disappointed that there were no major tech reveals during the event, Google I/O 2024 gave us a deeper look into Gemini AI and its integration into the broader Google ecosystem. Now that the event has wrapped up, we're also excited that the Pixel 8a is officially hitting store shelves. So far, it's looking like many of the best Pixel 8a preorder deals are still available, so get in while you can. 

Did you miss the event? If you don't want to watch the recorded video above, here are some of the Google I/O highlights we've recorded so far. Needless to say, nearly all of the announcements are concerned with Gemini AI. 

• Say hello to a faster Gemini model, improved AI agents, and Imagen 3
• Google Play at I/O 2024 highlights better security and user app experiences
• Google Photos is letting you chat with your pictures thanks to Gemini
• Google details big Gen AI upgrades for queries in Search during I/O 2024
• My only Google I/O excitement was a two-second glimpse of secret Google hardware

• The best Google Pixel 8a deals of May 2024

Google I/O 2024 has come to a close, which means the new Pixel 8a is officially available for purchase. If you missed last week's preorder period, we actually just learned that some of the best offers will remain available through at least May 19th — and possibly later, depending on the retailer. 

You would think that Google would have taken some time away from AI during the I/O 2024 Keynote. While Dave Burke had some well-deserved stage time to showcase some new Gemini features on Android, we actually have to wait until tomorrow to learn more about Android 15. It's also likely that Google will release Android 15 Beta 2 into the wild, along with a few other announcements.

It's rather incredible that Google managed to mention AI more than 120 times. While that might seem like too much, the reality is that it's just the tip of the iceberg. For day two of I/O 2024, Google is set to release Android 15 Beta 2. We're hopeful that it will include some of those AI-centric features teased or announced during the Keynote.

While we await the arrival of Beta 2, Nandika gives us a look at the various Gemini features slated to come to Android. 

For the most part, Android 15 seems to be more of a "quality-of-life" update, which is to be expected. One of the key changes is a new Notification Cooldown option, for those who don't want to be barraged with group chat or email notifications. Fans of foldable phones will enjoy better continuity, as Google is implementing a feature from the OnePlus Open. When folding your phone closed, you can pick right up with what you were doing on the cover screen.

Google is also putting a lot of work into its native desktop mode, which is great considering that "Display Out" was recently enabled on the Pixel 8. Android 15 greatly improves the multi-window experience. Although it's not expected to be a key feature of the initial release, there is hope for Google to introduce its Samsung DeX competitor alongside the Pixel 9 series.

The first announcement from Day 2 of Google I/O 2024 isn't Android-related, but it's still exciting. Soon, developers will able to access the Google Home platform as the company is opening API access. Not only will developers be able to integrate Google's various smart home devices, but the APIs also cover devices compatible with the Matter standard.

The Home APIs are said to already be available for "early access partners." In a statement to The Verge, Anish Kattukaran, head of product at Google Home and Nest said "The first apps using the home APIs will be able to publish to the Play and App stores in the fall.”

The smart home fun doesn't stop there, as Google has another major update coming our way. It seems that Google is leaning even further into the Matter standard, and plans to turn your Google TV into a Google Home Hub. According to The Verge, the initial list of devices includes the "Chromecast with Google TV, select panel TVs with Google TV running Android 14 or higher, and some LG TVs."

As for the existing Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, Google is introducing a new "Home runtime" ability. The goal here is to improve compatibility with Matter standards, connect with the new Home APIs, and cut down the ongoing latency problems "significantly." 

The wait is finally over! Android 15 Beta 2 has arrived and actually brings a few more features than we were anticipating. The first major feature is called "Private Space," letting you hide apps on your phone similar to Samsung's Secure Folder. This relies on using a separate profile, meaning that the "private" apps "can't be seen by others or run in the background when locked."

Another exciting feature in Beta 2 is the ability to create App Pairs, just like we've seen on Samsung phones for years. When opening two apps in split-view, you can easily create an App Pair for quick and easy access later. This isn't just for foldable phones and tablets but is also coming to "regular" slab phones like the Pixel 8.

If you want to learn more about what Android 15 Beta 2 has in store, check out our coverage here. 

• Wear OS 5 will bring major upgrades to battery life, fitness, and watch faces

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, but Wear OS 5 has a renewed focus on improving battery life for the best smartwatches. Google already announced the Wear OS Hybrid Interface, aiming to improve the efficiency of Wear OS 4. However, the next major release looks to make your Wear OS smartwatch last even longer. According to Google's blog post, "running a marathon consumes up to 20% less power on Wear OS 5 than on Wear OS 4."

To go along with the efficiency improvements, Google is making a major change to Health Connect. With Wear OS 5, your fitness and workout data is now able to sync in the background, including Health Connect and the fitness apps you are using. Previously, data was only synced when those fitness apps were "open and active."

The Wear OS 5 Developer Preview is available starting today. 

If you don't have a Pixel but want to check out what Android 15 has to offer, you're in luck! Alongside the Beta 2 announcement, Google confirmed that there are more than ten companies joining the proverbial beta train. This includes the likes of Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi and others. There's even a build available for OnePlus Open owners, something that we didn't have on our bingo card.