Google's flagship AI model will take center stage at I/O 2026. Whether named Gemini 4.0 or 3.8, the new version promises significant improvements in speed, intelligence, and integration across Google's product ecosystem.

Research variant "Deep Think" reportedly achieved an 84.6% score on the ARC-AGI2 benchmark and reached 3,455 ELO on Codeforces – placing it in the top 0.2% of programmers worldwide.

New Notebooks Feature: Users can now store sources on specific topics in dedicated "notebooks" – self-contained databases that serve as persistent context for Gemini conversations. Unlike NotebookLM (which only uses user-provided content), Gemini will use notebook context while also searching the internet for broader answers.

Dynamic Visualizations: When you ask Gemini to "show" or "visualize" something, it can now generate dynamic interactive simulations directly in the chat interface.

Agentic AI Direction: Gemini is evolving from a chat assistant to autonomous agents that can perform complex tasks with minimal human oversight – from booking flights to managing email workflows.

After years of patience following the Google Glass backlash, Google is returning to the smart glasses market – and this time, it looks very different.

Project Aura & XREAL Partnership: Google partnered with Chinese AR glasses maker XREAL on a wired XR glasses model. Google described the collaboration as "the most complete hardware sample closest to the Android XR ideal."

Key Specs:

• 70-degree optical see-through FOV (largest practical consumer AR field of view)
• XREAL's X1S spatial computing chip
• Multimodal Gemini fused with cameras, microphones, and environmental sensors
• Android XR open native AI OS

Multiple Partners, Multiple Models: Beyond XREAL, Google has also partnered with Warby Parker (wireless monocular XR glasses) and Gentle Monster (Korean fashion eyewear brand) – with iOS compatibility confirmed. Price points are expected to range from entry-level to premium luxury.

Key Features: Heads-up notifications, live translation, Gemini Live integration, hands-free interactions via Gemini voice commands, and the ability to ask Gemini questions about what you're seeing through the glasses.

Android 17 has been in beta since February, with four beta releases so far – the latest in mid-April. The official release is expected in June or July 2026, timed with the next Pixel launch.

App Bubbles (Marquee Feature): Users can pop any app into a floating window and shrink it to a bubble on the screen edge – improving multitasking significantly.

Gemini Across More Devices: Google announced that Gemini will be integrated into Wear OS smartwatches, Android Auto, Google TV, and Android XR devices in the coming months.

Material 3 Expressive: A new design language with fluid animations, customizable quick settings, and optimized home screen grids – without excessive battery drain.

AI-Powered Scam Detection: Google is expanding Pixel-exclusive AI-based scam detection to all Android devices, protecting Google Messages users from SMS/phone scams.

One of Google's most intriguing projects is Aluminum OS – a new operating system that merges Android and ChromeOS into a single unified platform. The goal is to bring the full Android app ecosystem to laptops while retaining Chrome's web browsing capabilities.

What to expect: Aluminum OS would enable seamless integration between Android phones and computers, run all Android apps natively, integrate Gemini at the system level, and could potentially signal the return of the Pixelbook.

Google has officially confirmed the Aluminum OS timeline, and I/O 2026 would be the perfect stage for the first public demonstration. The platform is a direct competitor to Windows and macOS in the desktop space.

Veo (AI Video Generation): Current VO3.1 generates up to 8 seconds of video. Veo 4 is expected to produce 10-30 second clips at 4K resolution, with built-in storyboarding and improved scene consistency. A Wikipedia entry listed an April 2026 release date for VO4.

Lyria 3 Pro (AI Music Generation): Generates three-minute songs with full vocals, instruments, and song structure – six times longer than the previous version.

Beam (3D Video Conferencing): A futuristic video conferencing solution that uses multiple cameras to render you as a 3D model, creating an immersive face-to-face experience.

Google AI Studio & Antigravity: New low-code AI app development platform and AI code generation tools.

Android Studio + AI: Gemini-assisted automated development workflows.

Firebase Upgrade: Transitioning to an agent-native platform.

Gemma Updates: Google's open-source model family.

Flutter Progress: Open-source UI framework updates.