What to expect at Google I/O 2025 and how to watch
Instead of combining everything into one keynote, it’s giving Android its show.
Last year, Google I/O leaned heavily towards AI, with Gemini integrated into nearly everything, from video and image generation tools like Veo and Imagen, to audio overviews that could summarize and even discuss documents.
This year, Google is taking a more segmented approach. Instead of combining everything into one keynote, it’s giving Android its space with The Android Show, while Gemini and other AI projects take the spotlight at the main I/O keynote. The move suggests a deliberate effort to treat Android and AI as distinct priorities rather than bundling them together.
Here’s what to expect and how to follow both events.
Henry Chikwem
What to expect from the Android Show: I/O Edition
Android 16
Android 16 will be taking center stage at The Android Show: I/O Edition, happening tomorrow. This year’s update is more than a routine version bump. Google is introducing a fresh layer of design polish and a handful of practical upgrades.
Visually, Android 16 adopts Material 3 Expressive, Google’s newest design language. Expect smoother animations, richer customization, and interface elements that better respond to individual user behavior. The goal is to make Android not just modern, but more adaptable to your day-to-day use.
Functionally, the OS is getting smarter. Features like Auracast support should improve Bluetooth audio switching, an often overlooked but much-needed convenience. There's also a push toward a cleaner experience with summarized notifications designed to reduce clutter. Other additions include lock screen widgets, enhanced accessibility options, and under-the-hood performance boosts. These upgrades show a continued focus on improving usability across the board.
Wear OS
Google hasn’t forgotten about its wearables. While the updates to Wear OS at I/O 2025 aren’t expected to be groundbreaking, they’re still meaningful—especially if you use a smartwatch every day.
Wear OS 5.1, based on Android 15, will likely bring some nice quality-of-life improvements. One of the big ones is unified authentication, which makes signing into apps and services on your watch a lot less annoying. Another is speaker playback support, which means better handling of calls and media directly from your wrist.
These might sound small, but they’re part of a bigger effort to make the entire Wear OS ecosystem smoother and more consistent.
Android XR
This year, Google is finally making a serious move into extended and mixed reality—and they’re calling it Android XR. It’s not their first attempt (remember Daydream VR?), but it feels like the most focused one yet. Android XR is meant to be a full-fledged platform for immersive experiences, whether you’re wearing a headset, smart glasses, or something in between.
A major piece of this is Project Moohan, the upcoming mixed-reality headset Google is building in partnership with Samsung. It’s rumored to come with high-end features like hand and eye tracking, sharp displays, and spatial awareness. Most importantly, it’ll run Google’s Gemini assistant, which means it won’t just react to what you do—it’ll anticipate and understand your needs in real time. That could mean asking Gemini a question by looking at something or getting help while multitasking in a 3D space.
Google’s also developing a new wave of smart glasses aimed at more everyday use. These could offer features like real-time translation, object recognition, or voice-controlled interactions—all without needing to pull out your phone.
To support it all, Google is launching tools like the Android XR SDK and Jetpack XR, so developers can build immersive apps using the Android tools they already know.
What to expect from the main Google I/O keynote
Gemini: Front and Center
Let’s start with the obvious: Gemini is still the main character, just more powerful and possibly a little more expensive. Google recently released Gemini 2.5 Pro, a faster and more capable version of its generative AI model. It currently ranks high on performance benchmarks, and the keynote is expected to detail how it’s being used across different platforms — from mobile devices to desktops and possibly smart home systems.
There are also signs that Gemini Ultra, a higher-end model, is on the way. Code references hint at two new subscription plans — Premium Plus and Premium Pro. Details are limited, but the tiers may offer additional tools not included in the current $20/month Gemini Advanced plan.
Video overviews
Looks like Google’s about to level up NotebookLM, this time with video. A new “Video Overviews” button was spotted, suggesting you might soon be able to turn notes into short, summarised video clips. These would likely use the Veo 2 model, known for creating quick, templated visuals, kind of like the current audio summaries.
With preview tags for Veo 3.0 and Imagen 4.0 also popping up, there’s growing buzz about bigger upgrades possibly landing at Google I/O on May 20. Nothing’s official yet, but the signs are all there; Google’s AI game is only getting stronger.
General updates to Google’s ecosystem
After the keynote and The Android Show, things get more technical. Expect deep dives into Chrome, Google Cloud, and Google Play, covering performance, monetisation, and AI features. One to watch is Gemma, Google’s “open” AI model, which looks ready to move from lab experiments to real-world use. All signs point to a developer-heavy I/O, packed with tools to shape what comes next.
Project Astra
If there’s one thing to keep an eye on at Google I/O 2025, it’s Project Astra. First teased at last year’s event, Astra is Google’s big swing at making AI smarter, not just on your phone, but in the world around you.
The idea is to create AI agents that can understand and respond to what they see and hear in real time, kind of like giving your devices eyes and ears. This year, we’ll likely see Astra get a major update, possibly including live demos showing it working with smart glasses or other devices. If Google pulls it off, Astra could make AI a lot more useful in everyday life, from navigating the world to identifying what you're looking at.
How to Watch
The Android Show: I/O Edition takes place on May 13, 2025, about a week ahead of the main I/O event. Hosted by Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem, it’ll stream on Android’s YouTube channel. The focus will be on Android 16, with demos and a look at what’s coming.
The main Google I/O keynote happens on Tuesday, May 20, at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. UK, 11:30 p.m. IST). You can watch live via Google’s I/O site or YouTube, with a replay available afterward.
Conclusion
So, whether you’re here for AI magic, Android upgrades, or just curious about what Google’s cooking up next, I/O 2025 looks packed.
From Gemini and Project Astra to Android XR and smarter wearables, Google’s not just talking about the future, they’re building it into everything. And with the event split into two major moments, there’s something for everyone to tune into.
