Google I/O: main announcements

Google I/O 2021: May 18-20

OS

• Launches Android 12, adds car key functionality; Android reaches 3b devices powered
• Launches Wear OS 3.0, partners with Samsung on developing Wear OS for Galaxy watches, Fitbit plans smart watch based on Wear OS; partners with Samsung to develop foldable devices
• Android TV OS reaches 80m MAU devices, adds features

New tools

• Demos Project Starline (videoconference tech; booth equipped with cameras & sensors for creating holographic (3D) video)
• Demos LaMDA: AI for natural-language dialogue
• Launches AI-based Derm Assist (dermatology assist tool) to help spot skin, hair & nail conditions (based on images uploaded by patients)
• Launches new password tools (Google Assistant will offer a change password button, based on Duplex tech)

Updates

• Updates Google Photos, reaches >1b users, total stored 4 trillion photos/videos; adds Cinematic moments (animate series of static photos), generates pattern-based memories
• Updates Google Maps, adds Live View feature (AR-based, adds store information & photos)
• Google Workspace adds Smart Canvas (collaboration, uses AI for language suggestions and idea sharing via Google Meet integration, integrates Docs, Sheets and Slides)

Shopping

• Partners with Shopify to integrate Google Search, Maps, Images, Lens, YouTube
• Google Search launches Shopping Graph: pulls together information from across websites, price reviews, videos, product data (pulled directly from brands & retailers)

Developers

• Launches Vertex AI: platform for developers for enterprise AI/ML
• Launches TPUv4 (AI chip)
• Plans commercial quantum computer by 2029 (developed at new quantum AI campus in Santa Barbara)
• Launches Flutter 2.2 (open source UI development kit)

GCP

• To deploy technology for shifting workloads between datacenters based on availability of renewable energy
• Partnered with Fervo to develop geothermal plant in Nevada, uses AI to optimise efficiency

Google I/O 2019: highlights

General

• Focus on privacy.

AI

• Launches AI Impact Challenge ($25M)
• Demos Project Euphonia (understand the speech-impaired)
• Improves Google Assistant (10x faster, to be added to Waze)
• Expands Duplex to web (assistant for making restaurant or hairdresser reservations)
• Improves Lens & adds to Google Maps

Android

• Passes 2.5b active devices
• Launches Android Q (beta #3; incl Project Mainline: deliver important code changes to specific internal OS components directly from Google Play)
• Plans parental controls
• Adds Live Caption for real-time subtitles
• Works with Qualcomm on API improvement for 5G

Android TV

• Enables one-click subscribing
• Reaches 140 pay-TV operator integrations, 60% of smart TV manufacturers uses Android TV, total 1k content providers & 5k apps.

Devices

• Launches Pixel 3a (5.6 inch, $400) & 3a XL (6 inch, $480), Nest Hub Max (10 inch screen, video camera, $230)
• Considers foldable device
• Rebrands Home Hub to Nest Hub (drops price to $130, expands to 12 more countries)

AR

• To add AR to Google Maps (for Pixel users)
• Google Search results in 3D AR

Privacy

• Adds incognito mode to Google Maps

Search

• To add podcasts