Google held its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2026, which serves as the traditional response to Apple’s annual events. While we await Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2026) this coming June, Google decided to show its cards early and flex its muscles in the field of artificial intelligence. From cutting-edge Gemini models and revolutionary search tools to smart audio glasses, it seems Google is determined to offer an integrated experience to compete with Apple in all areas. In fact, ironically and surprisingly, some of Google’s live demos at the conference were showcased directly using an iPhone 17 Pro Max!
Stormy Updates for the Gemini Family and a Dedicated Mac App
Google announced its new generation of AI models, starting with the super-powered Gemini Omni model, which is capable of processing and generating any output from any input, with an amazing ability to simulate gravity and kinetic energy. This model integrates the intelligence of Gemini with advanced generative models like Veo and Nano Banana, allowing users to upload videos and edit any element within them via voice commands. To make this power immediately available, the company launched the fast Gemini Omni Flash version, available starting today for paid subscribers of the Gemini app.
Google didn’t stop there; it also unveiled the Gemini 3.5 Flash model, which combines superior intelligence with execution speed, outperforming the 3.1 Pro model in all benchmark tests and available to everyone via products and APIs starting today, with promises to internally test the Gemini 3.5 Pro model for a release next month. In an interesting gesture for Apple users, the Gemini app received a revolutionary update for the Mac; users can now select multiple images and documents in the Finder app and then press the Function Key to give a voice command to Gemini to handle these files, such as asking it to draft an email and send it via Gmail using information extracted from those files.
Google Search Engine Transforms Entirely into an AI Engine
The most prominent theme of the conference was “Google Search is AI Search.” The AI Overviews feature and the smart search mode have been updated to rely entirely on the fast Gemini 3.5 Flash model. Google also redesigned the traditional search box to go beyond simple word autocompletion; the new box supports inputting images, files, videos, and Chrome browser tabs as search inputs, which Sundar Pichai described as the biggest upgrade to the search box in over a quarter of a century.
That wasn’t all; search also received a Generative UI feature that enables the search engine to create custom tools and interactive tables to meet the demands of programmers and users for free this summer. This is in addition to the “Agents in Search” feature, which allows tracking changes on web pages and sending custom alerts to users, not to mention the Universal Cart feature, which allows adding products while reading email or browsing YouTube and completing payments automatically via smart payment agents on your behalf according to the budget and options you set in advance.
Android XR Audio Glasses and Agents Working Around the Clock
In terms of hardware, Google surprised attendees by announcing the upcoming launch of the first audio glasses running on the Android XR system this fall. Their design was developed in collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, while Samsung handled the internal hardware manufacturing. These glasses provide constant access to the Gemini assistant, which will speak into the user’s ear with complete privacy, and they support taking photos, listening to music, and making calls, with full compatibility with both Android and iPhone devices.
Google also introduced Gemini Spark, a personal smart agent that works in the background around the clock via the cloud (without needing to open your computer) to accomplish long, multi-step tasks and plan sub-tasks. To support this massive ecosystem, Google introduced a new Ultra subscription plan for $100, reduced the price of the higher Ultra plan from $250 to $200, launched the Android Halo feature to keep the user informed of smart agent activity at the top of their phone screen, and introduced creator updates like Google Pics for generating and designing creative ads.
Google Conference Anecdotes
During the conference presentation, Google was supposed to use its own phone at the very least, but the presenter used their iPhone to showcase one of Google’s apps. Jokes aside, all companies develop their apps on Apple devices first due to the ease of development, even Google, which owns the Android system.
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