Google I/O 2024 LIVE: Android 15, Gemini AI, and Pixel news as it happens

Gemini, where did I leave my keys?

Google announces the Project Astra. This is a visual-based AI model, so you provide input via your camera and then ask a question. We’re getting a demonstration of the device identifying something that makes a sound — speaker. Then it identifies part of the speaker — tweeters. The AI model even recalled where the user left their glasses — this is so cool and so creepy at the same time. It also provided creative responses, like a band name for a puppy and a stuffed animal in the image.

We’re talking about AlphaFold 3, which just launched last week, designed to help research diseases and aid in drug discovery. And now Google has introduced Gemini 1.5 Flash, which is designed to be fast, offer low latency with up to 1M Tokens, and is available in Google AI Studio and Vertex AI.

This sounds like a stripped-down version of Gemini 1.5 Pro to prioritize tasks that require speed more than anything else.

Gemini, return my shoes please

Google is now talking about the use cases it wants to solve, like how Gemini will search the receipt, fill out a form, and schedule a pickup for a pair of shoes you want to return. Another example is when you want to move and change your address — Gemini could help you do it for all of your apps and even offer tips about exploring your new home.

Google wants to “Organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

NotebookLM is a classroom in an app?

We’re getting a demo in NotebookLM, a research and writing tool, and Gemini 1.5 Pro is coming to NotebookLM. You can add worksheets, homework, textbooks and it’ll create a “Notebook guide,” so you’ll get a study guide, FAQ, and even a Quiz. 

Now NotebookLM features an Audio output, so NotebookLM will generate an audio discussion based on the material presented. If you tap Join, you can join in on the conversation and ask the AI a question. It will process and respond to your question as if you’re conversing with an actual teacher.

We’re now getting some interview footage of developers and how they’ve used Gemini 1.5 Pro to help with their coding. 

Google has announced that Gemini 1.5 Pro will be available to all developers globally today along with its new updates for improvements across the board. The context window also increases from 1M Tokens to 2M Tokens, which is a unit of data that is processed by algorithms.

Big upgrade for Google Photos

Now we can ask questions like “what’s my license plate number again” or “when did my daughter learn to swim” in Google Photos. This service is called Ask Photos, and it will roll out this summer.

This seems like a very convenient service, but I’d love to know about how Google plans on keeping information secure.

Sundar Pichai is talking about Google’s Gemini Era and the success of Gemini 1.5 Pro. We’re getting a lot of background about Gemini’s userbase and where you can access it — Android and iOS devices.

AI Overviews will launch in the US this week, which is an experience that lets you input longer and more in-depth prompts.

The show has begun

Google is opening with a trailer highlighting AI and other Google features. CEO Sundar Pichai takes the stage, prepping us for the Gemini chat. 

Google I/O 2024: How to watch the keynote live

We’re now just 30 minutes away from the Google I/O opening keynote. We’ll be live blogging through the showcase in its entirety with follow-up coverage to share once the show draws to a close.

Want to watch along live? Head to Google’s YouTube channel or the Google I/O website, or stay put and we’ll keep you informed of everything that announced by Google from the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California.

There’s a chance…

While OpenAI came out of the gate swinging, Google is already teasing at big things on the Gemini front. In a video posted to the official Google X account yesterday, someone can be seen making use of native video processing with Gemini on a Pixel smartphone — with the AI responding to prompts based on what the phone’s camera was currently looking at.

In the video, Gemini is able to decipher that people are currently setting up for an event, and even recognize the Google I/O logo displayed on stage. While not as free-flowing or natural sounding as OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Gemini’s conversational capabilities are still well delivered, though lack the human-like reaction speed ChatGPT is capable of.

Can Google measure up to OpenAI’s GPT-4o reveal?

Yesterday’s GPT-4o reveal by OpenAI was fairly impressive, showcasing a multimodal AI that seems to deliver in ways companies like Google and Apple have promised their virtual assistants of old would one day be capable of.

Sadly, it seems like the writing is on the wall when it comes to Google Assistant and Siri, with Gemini putting down roots on Android devices as the new go-to assistant and Apple reportedly close to penning a deal with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT tech to the iPhone.

Does Google have enough up its sleeve to measure up to the impressive offerings of GPT-4o, or does this post by @MorningBrew on X hit a little too close to home?

According to the leaks, each phone in the Pixel 9 line will feature 120Hz AMOLED displays and feature Google’s upcoming Tensor G4 chipset.

The base Pixel 9 will include 12GB of RAM with configurations starting at 128GB of storage. Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL will offer 16GB of RAM with the same base-configuration for storage.

Also, only the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL will include UWB, locking in the more precise tracking possibilities to the more expensive models.

Pixel 9 news is here, just not from Google

While Google might not have plans to reveal the Pixel 9 line-up today, that hasn’t stopped the internet from stepping in to do so itself. Russian website Rozetked has been kind enough to share with us all pictures of the Pixel 9 line in full, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 XL.

Google I/O 2024: How to watch the keynote live

Google I/O kicks off with the Google keynote today at 10 a.m. PT (or 1p.m ET), which will be live-streamed via Google’s YouTube channel and Google’s website.

Trying to watch along from outside or the U.S. coasts? We’re rounded up when the keynote takes place in other time zones to make sure you’re among the first to catch Google’s reveals as they happen.

• Denver, Colorado: 11 a.m. Mountain
• Dallas, Texas: 12 p.m. Central
• Honolulu, Hawaii: 7 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time
• Halifax, Canada: 2 p.m. Atlantic Daylight Time
• London, United Kingdom: 5 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time
• Berlin, Germany: 7 p.m. Central European Summer Time
• Delhi, India: 10:30 p.m. Indian Standard Time
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 9 p.m. Gulf Standard Time 

Google I/O 2024: What we (probably) won’t see!

We can’t say for certain what Google has in store for us when I/O kicks off in a few hours time, but we do know it’s unlikely to see much of certain products at today’s showcase.

Among those unlikely to make an appearance are the already launched Google Pixel 8a and the dock-less Pixel Tablet. They were shuffled out early under the cover of darkness. Not in the middle of the night, but just in the shadow of Apple’s “Let Loose” event.

Also unlikely to make an appearance at today’s event, is much information about the Pixel 9 line-up. We may get a glimpse at the new Pixel 9-wide design, but don’t expect much more information than that.

Similarly, it’s highly unlikely that we’ll be seeing the rumored Pixel Watch 3, that’s much more likely to be showcased during October’s Made by Google event.

Pixel Fold 2: New look, new name?

New look and processor aside, there might be another big “new” heading the way of the Pixel Fold 2: a new name.

The entire Pixel 9 line-up is in for a shakeup in 2024, if rumors prove true. Current reports indicate that the Pixel 9 Pro will however be split into two variants, with one retaining the smaller size of the Pixel 9, and the other the same increased frame of the Pixel 8 Pro. This larger phone will be known as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Not only that, it’s rumored that the Pixel Fold will be brought into this group of phones more clearly by renaming it to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It’s a little more of a mouthful, but it does make it more clear as to which time frame each phone comes from this way.

Read more here: Google Pixel Fold 2 may have a new name — here’s why that’s exciting

Pixel Fold 2: What we know so far

If what we’ve heard about the Pixel Fold 2 so far turns out to be true, then we could be looking at a super sequel to Google’s “formidable first foldable.”

Not only will the Pixel Fold 2 be joining the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro in receiving a slightly altered appearance, but it’ll also be joining those devices in being outfitted with Google’s upcoming Tensor G4 chipset.

One of the key issues with the original fold was the fact it held onto the G2 chipset, while the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro got to enjoy Google’s updated G3 model. Well, this time around, it would appear that the Pixel Fold 2 is getting the flagship treatment.

Introducing the Pixel Fold 2

Another strong candidate for reveal today comes by way of the Pixel Fold 2, Google’s second attempt at a foldable phone.

We reviewed the original Pixel Fold in June 2023, rewarding it four out of five stars in the process. Considering this was Google’s first attempt at making a foldable device, we were impressed, especially when it came to the phone’s solid battery life and vivid display.

However, there was still plenty of room to improve. The Pixel Fold 2 is Google’s opportunity to do just that, hopefully through addressing issues with processing power, charging speeds, and in an ideal world, price.

The latter is unlikely to make a change, foldables are still pretty expensive at the best of times, however, we’re holding out hope for Google to bring the change when it comes to our other critiques.

Want to know more about some of the features arriving with Android 15? You can always check out our dedicated page for Android 15 news and rumors, or catch up with some of the articles our writers have published about the tools and services that are on their way right now!

Android 15: More than performance tweaks

Of course, much like any other operating system, you can expect a series of bug fixes and performance tweaks. However, Android 15 will bring a number of new features to Android smartphones too.

From what we know so far, Android 15 will be bringing a host of new tools and services to the platform, including everything from a macOS-like persistent taskbar for tablets and large screen devices to satellite connectivity support.

We expect you’ll see and hear more about Android 15’s many features during today’s live stream. Hopefully, Google will sneak in a few surprises too!

Introducing Android 15

Android 15 is the next milestone release of Google’s mobile operating system. It’s designed to compliment both smartphones and tablets, much like iOS and iPadOS for Apple devices.

However, unlike Apple’s mobile operating systems, Android is known for its high level of customization making it ideal for power users or those seeking to make their device truly unique to them.

Android 15 is currently in the beta testing phase of development, however, Pixel phone owners can opt in to the operating system update early and experience what’s coming through the pipeline early.

We expect Android 15 to release in full later this year, potentially alongside the release of Google’s Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro phones at the October 2024 Made By Google event.

Introducing Google Gemini

For those of you not already in the loop, you may be wondering what Google Gemini is. Fear not, we’ll get the introductions underway for you!

Gemini has replaced Google Bard as the company’s flagship large language model (LLM). While Google Bard was powered by LaMDA and PaLM 2 models, Gemini is running on its own family of Gemini models, offering sweeping performance improvements and better logic and reasoning.

Gemini is Google’s latest multimodal AI, much like ChatGPT. This means that Google’s chatbot is capable of working with you across images, audio, video, and code, as well as communicating using natural human-like language.
 

Google I/O 2024: The countdown begins!

We are now LIVE, and reporting to you ahead of Google I/O 2024! We’ll be bringing you everything we know so far in the lead-up to today’s event and recapping the latest Google news and rumors along the way.