Was it the best or worst Google I/O ever?

Google I/O 2024 is here, and the keynote is done and dusted. Everyone expected AI to take center stage during the keynote speech, and it certainly did. Virtually all of Google’s announcements have been focused on AI and Gemini, and the company has made solid announcements about new products and features that improve the Google ecosystem experience. Google I/O spans multiple days and sessions, but for the most part, the keynote sets the tone for all the big announcements.

As Android fans, we’ve been a little disappointed by the lack of attention given to Android as a platform. As is tradition with previous Android releases, we expected to see Android 15 Beta 2 released or detailed during the keynote. But Google postponed Android 15 Beta 2 until tomorrow, the next day.

The company chose to focus all its energy on AI announcements, and in many ways Google I/O 2024 felt more like a shareholder event than a developer or consumer event (even (if, to be honest, Google I/O is not a consumer event). event). The company even counted the number of times it discussed AI on stage, making it clear where its priorities lie.

Another irritating feeling about this year’s Google I/O keynote was that developers had very little to try right after the show. In the past, there have been many new features and products to explore, but most of what we saw today seemed “coming soon” or “later this year”, made worse by the lack of a Android 15 beta to test today. For products and services that many may not experience immediately, Google I/O seemed unnecessarily long and surprisingly disorganized.

There was also, undoubtedly, an overdose of Gemini. Everything is Gemini, and Gemini is everything, to the point that even enthusiasts will have a hard time knowing which Gemini exactly Google is talking about. I don’t see how a casual observer will be able to follow Google I/O 2024 without feeling overwhelmed and confused by Gemini. Maybe we should try asking Gemini for a recap of the Google I/O 2024 keynote. We’d ask Google Assistant, but this one seems done and dusted.

On the other hand, it’s great to see Google stand up and take on its competitors. While there is certainly room to improve their messaging on this (not from Google, I’m not asking for another messaging app), competition in the AI ​​space from a big company like Google will keep the pressure on over other big names like OpenAI/Microsoft and Apple. Ultimately, consumers should (hopefully) benefit from this AI race.