Google I/O 2025 kicks off on May 20, and all signs point to one of the most packed developer conferences in recent memory. From Android 16 and new XR ambitions to major AI updates, there’s a lot to unpack — and for the first time, Google is splitting its showcase across two separate events. That means Android is getting its own spotlight a week earlier, on May 13, via a dedicated Android Show: I/O Edition.
If you’re curious about what’s coming — or just want to know where to tune in — we’ve rounded up all the credible leaks, rumors, and official teases to help you prepare.
🔷 Android 16: A Bigger Moment Than Usual
Android hasn’t taken center stage at I/O in recent years, but that changes this year with the dedicated Android Show. The spotlight now belongs to Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, who took over from Dave Burke in 2024. Expect a deep dive into Android 16, with a possible stable release dropping that same day.
Confirmed and rumored features include:
- Live Activities-style ongoing notifications
- A more robust photo picker with support for cloud storage providers
- Auracast support for seamless Bluetooth audio sharing (including hearing aids)
- Material 3 Expressive, the rumored UI overhaul, which leaked via a pulled Google blog post and aims for faster, clearer interaction by using vibrant, responsive visuals
Beta testers are already on Android 16 Beta 4, and developer insights have painted a picture of a refined, accessibility-forward OS update.
🕶️ Android XR: Google’s Return to Headsets
After retiring projects like Google Glass, Daydream, and Cardboard, Google is trying again with Android XR — and this time it’s serious. Partnering with Samsung, Google is working on a headset codenamed Project Moohan, teased in late 2024 and expected to launch sometime this year.
This new XR push is powered by Gemini, Google’s advanced AI model family, which the company claims will differentiate it from past flops. Whether or not Project Moohan gets a live demo at I/O, expect a big pitch about the XR platform and the ecosystem of partners behind it.
🤖 Gemini AI: The Star of the Show
Google’s relentless push into AI will take center stage at I/O. While details are scarce, we’re likely to hear about updates to:
- AI Overviews (summarization in Search)
- AI Mode (possibly tied to Android or Google Assistant)
- Project Mariner, the web-browsing AI assistant demoed at I/O 2024
One of the biggest reveals could involve Project Astra, Google’s vision for a fully multimodal assistant. Originally demoed last year with voice, vision, and contextual awareness, Astra felt a little undercooked in person — so we may see how far it’s come in a year.
⌚ Wear OS: Don’t Count It Out
Wear OS was barely mentioned during last year’s keynote, but Wear OS 5.1 just landed on Pixel Watch devices in March. The official Wear OS X account has teased news during the Android Show, so we may get a first look at Wear OS 6 or see new integrations with Gemini AI.
📓 NotebookLM Goes Mobile
Google’s AI-powered notebook app NotebookLM is making the leap to mobile. Already live on desktop since 2023, listings spotted in the App Store and Google Play indicate the app will launch on smartphones on May 20, coinciding with the main I/O event.
Expect features like auto-generated summaries, smart tagging, and Gemini integration to come to mobile users for the first time.
🔍 One Last Thing?
Leaks are Google’s Achilles heel, so the odds of a major surprise are slim. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be something unexpected — a new device, a rebrand, or even an AI-first OS vision could still make waves.
📺 How to Watch
Both events — the Android Show (May 13) and Google I/O (May 20-21) — will be streamed live. We’ll be liveblogging the announcements and breaking down the biggest news as it happens, so make sure to check back here at Engadget for full coverage.
