Anticipation is building for Google’s annual developer conference, I/O 2025, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that this year’s event is poised to be an overwhelming AI show. In a significant departure from previous years, Android is no longer positioned front and center at Google’s major developer gathering.
This shift was underlined by a notable announcement made even before I/O officially kicks off. Google revealed what is described as Android’s biggest visual update in years, named Material Three Expressive, not on the main I/O stage, but during a pre-show event broadcast on YouTube the week prior. The very fact that a major design language overhaul for the world’s most popular mobile operating system wouldn’t headline I/O speaks volumes about what will take precedence: Artificial Intelligence.
This dominant focus on AI at I/O 2025 isn’t entirely a surprise; it reflects a very obvious and inescapable shift that Google, along with virtually every other tech company, has been making recently, accelerating the release of AI features at a breakneck pace. If you’ve followed the past couple of I/O keynotes, this trend was already evident, with Android receiving minimal mention in 2023 and CEO Sundar Pichai repeatedly emphasizing AI to the point where it became a running theme. Last year’s keynote followed a similar pattern.
At I/O 2025, expectations are high that Google will delve deeply into Gemini, discussing how they are enhancing it and integrating it into more areas that consumers will directly experience. Google has a vast array of platforms, or “surfaces,” where AI can be deployed. We anticipate hearing more about how AI will be woven into the XR platform (the reality glasses Google has teased multiple times), as well as key applications like Chrome, Gmail, and Meet. There is indeed a significant amount of ground for Google to cover in showcasing these AI integrations.
Interestingly, the prospect of less news specifically about the newest Android OS at I/O is presented as potentially a good thing in some ways. Google has dedicated considerable effort in recent years to delivering new features to a broader range of phones, even those not running the absolute latest OS version. This is achieved by pushing updates through Google Play and app updates, which allows features to reach users faster, particularly since manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola manage their own schedules for rolling out OS versions. Historically, slow feature rollouts that failed to reach many users were a key criticism of Android, a problem this approach helps mitigate. Furthermore, Google has adopted a new release schedule for Android 16 this year, featuring a major release in the second quarter and a minor one in the fourth quarter, a change intended to help more devices take advantage of new features.
However, there is a potential drawback: if I/O this year becomes solely an AI showcase, there’s a risk it might feel like a show we’ve already witnessed. The past two years have seen a seemingly endless succession of “nonstop AI pep rallies” from almost every consumer tech company. We’ve been shown numerous previews of features that are perpetually described as being “just around the corner”. While many companies have shown previews, Google is credited with having actually shipped a considerable number of AI features across its platforms.
Despite Google’s efforts in deploying AI, the author expresses a feeling that we might be reaching a tipping point. At this point, the repeated promises about how AI will save us time and effort are perhaps beginning to wear a little thin. Nevertheless, one positive aspect highlighted is that Google made a conscious decision to give Android its dedicated moment to shine before the main I/O show with the Material Three Expressive announcement. This is seen as a more appreciated approach than simply relegating Android to a few brief mentions interspersed between numerous AI feature updates during the main event.