Google has announced that its I/O developer conference will be taking place this year as a completely virtual event between May 18 and 20. Google I/O is the annual developer conference where people learn about the latest software developments from Google. This typically results in swarms of developers and journalists heading to California for a massive in-person event at Google’s headquarters, but as everyone knows, things are different now.
Google’s handling of I/O last year was a bit messy. The company initially announced that it was canceling the physical portion of I/O and would try and have some kind of virtual setup, but less than a month later, Google I/O 2020 was canceled entirely. Google did go on to have a virtual event to talk about Android 11 later in the year, but there was never any proper I/O presence.
While there still won’t be any physical get-together this year, Google confirms that I/O 2021 is taking place as an online-only affair. It’s happening between May 18-20, and for the first time ever, I/O will be free for anyone to attend. By registering to participate in Google I/O 2021, Google says that attendees will be able to “reserve Workshops and Ask Me Anything Sessions (AMAs) that are livestreamed and available in multiple time zones.” People will also be given personal event suggestions and badges, along with the ability to chat in something called ‘I/O Adventure.’
What To Expect From Google I/O 2021
Now that Google has confirmed I/O is a go for this year, it’s time to speculate about what the company will discuss at the upcoming event. For starters, Android 12 should have a big presence. I/O is always used as a place for Google to talk about its latest Android version, and this year that’s Android 12. Besides talking about new features that haven’t been revealed yet, Google will likely use I/O to officially launch the Android 12 public beta. There are also bound to be updates/announcements for Google Assistant, Google Photos, YouTube, and other Google services.
While I/O is very much a software-focused event, Google has also previously used it to unveil new hardware — most recently, the Google Pixel 3a was announced at Google I/O 2019. Google may talk about the Pixel 5a at I/O 2021, but that seems a bit early in the year, seeing how the Pixel 4a was just released back in August. Furthermore, the latest rumors have suggested that the Pixel 5a is being planned for a June announcement.
Even without any hardware announcements, Google I/O 2021 is going to be worth paying attention to. What Google has already shown off with Android 12 looks incredibly promising, and given that the company always holds back some of its cards for I/O, there are bound to be some big Android reveals that’ll be worth watching for. Google is also known for making some pretty big surprise announcements, such as the unveiling of Google Duplex in 2019. Whatever happens at this year’s event, there will surely be a lot to talk about.
