Google I/O, the tech giant's most anticipated developer conference of the year, is just around the corner.

Taking place from May 20 to 21 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, the event will feature a range of product announcements spanning Google’s diverse portfolio. Expect significant updates on Android, Chrome, Google Search, YouTube, and, naturally, Google’s AI-powered chatbot, Gemini.

Figure 1. Google I/O 2025 Preview: New Gemini Features and Android 16 Updates.

A major highlight at I/O is expected to be a new addition (or several) to Google’s flagship Gemini AI model family. Recent leaks indicate that an upgraded Gemini Ultra model is on the horizon, which will likely be Google’s top-tier offering. Figure 1 shows Google I/O 2025 Preview: New Gemini Features and Android 16 Updates.

Alongside the enhanced Gemini Ultra, Google might introduce a more expensive subscription plan. Currently, Google offers a single premium option, Gemini Advanced ($20 per month), which unlocks additional features for its Gemini chatbot. However, the company could soon roll out two new plans, Premium Plus and Premium Pro. Details on the specific benefits and pricing for these tiers remain unclear.

Google is expected to highlight Astra at I/O, which is part of the company's broad initiative to develop AI applications and "agents" capable of real-time, multimodal understanding. Another likely topic is Project Mariner, Google's AI-driven “agents” designed to navigate the web and take actions on behalf of users. Recently, references to “Computer Use” were identified in the code for Google’s AI Studio developer platform, which may be related to Mariner, further suggesting its potential role in the upcoming announcements.

For the first time this year, Google is hosting a separate event focused on Android updates: The Android Show. Set to take place on Tuesday, just a week before I/O, the event will center around the upcoming Android 16.

Android 16 is expected to introduce a more refined experience with new features like improved notifications and a fresh design language called Material 3 Expressive. According to a leaked blog post, Material 3 Expressive will overhaul the system with increased responsiveness and “action elements” that stand out.

Mostly a quality-of-life update, Android 16 will also introduce support for Auracast, which makes switching between Bluetooth devices more seamless. New features will include lock screen widgets and a variety of accessibility enhancements.

Expect Google to also highlight updates for Android XR, its mixed reality platform, and Wear OS, the company's software for wearables.

After The Android Show and the I/O keynote, there will be plenty more on the agenda, including sessions on Chrome, Google Cloud, Google Play, Android development tools, and Gemma, Google’s suite of “open” AI models.

Last year, Google surprised attendees with AI-focused announcements like LearnLM, a set of models tailored for educational applications. This year, a potential surprise could be an upgrade to NotebookLM, Google's popular podcast-generation tool. Leaked code suggests a new “Video Overviews” feature that might create video summaries, likely powered by Google’s Veo 2 video-generation model.

Gemini and AI Advancements at Google I/O 2025

At Google I/O 2025, the spotlight will be on Google’s AI developments, particularly its flagship Gemini AI models. With AI continuing to dominate the tech landscape, Google is expected to unveil an upgraded version of its Gemini family, likely the Gemini Ultra model. This will be the company's top-tier offering, boasting even more advanced capabilities. Along with this, there could be new subscription plans—Premium Plus and Premium Pro—building on the existing Gemini Advanced tier, offering expanded features for a higher price. Furthermore, Google is expected to introduce projects like Astra, which focuses on AI apps and agents for real-time, multimodal understanding, and Project Mariner, AI “agents” capable of navigating the web and taking actions on behalf of users.

Android 16, Mixed Reality, and More at Google I/O 2025

Google will also dedicate time to Android 16, which will introduce a range of user experience improvements, such as a new design language—Material 3 Expressive—and enhanced notifications. Android 16 will also focus on quality-of-life updates, like better Bluetooth device switching with Auracast, lock screen widgets, and accessibility improvements. Expect a deep dive into Android XR, Google’s mixed reality platform, as well as updates to Wear OS. Following The Android Show, the I/O keynote will cover updates on Chrome, Google Cloud, Google Play, and the tools for Android development. AI will also continue to take center stage, with potential surprises like upgrades to Google’s NotebookLM, possibly introducing video summaries powered by the Veo 2 video-generation model.

Reference:

1. https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/09/google-i-o-2025-what-to-expect-including-updates-to-gemini-and-android-16/

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025), What to Expect at Google I/O 2025: Updates on Gemini and Android 16, AnaTechMaz, pp. 246