Google I/O is the biggest annual event for developers and consumers who are interested in the latest innovations from Google. The conference is where Google typically unveils new products and services and provides a sneak peek at what's coming. This year's show was held on 10 May 2023 as a hybrid event with a limited live audience and online access for everyone. Here's everything you need to know about Google I/O 2023.

What is Google I/O?

Google I/O is an annual developer conference hosted by Google, where the company showcases its latest technologies and products. The conference typically features keynote speeches, technical sessions, and product announcements, and attracts both developers and consumers.

Google announced Google I/O 2023 through a blog post on the official Google Developers website in March. The post revealed the dates and format of the event and invited interested attendees to register for the event. The announcement was also shared on Google's social media channels. Like previous years, Google also teased the event with a binary field puzzle that fans had to solve to reveal the launch date.

When is Google I/O 2023?

Googgle I/O 20213 took place on 10 May. The keynote occurred at 10am PT and lasted about two hours.

Google I/O 2023
Google I/O 2023

How to watch Google I/O 2023 online

Google I/O 2023 was broadcast online and is still available to everyone to watch. We embedded the livestream at the top of this page - just hit play.

You can also navigate to the Google YouTube channel and then click on the "Live" tab to watch the keynote livestream directly on that platform. You can even register to attend I/O technical sessions for free, but the main keynote does not require any registration. Registration simply enables you to stay up to date about the I/O schedule as well as access additional on-demand conference content for free.

What happened at Google I/O 2023?

Google I/O 2023 was held in person at the Shoreline Amphitheater and offered a sneak peek into upcoming products and services across various Google platforms, including Android and AI. CEO Sundar Pichai kicked off the keynote presentation. Here are the major highlights.

Android 14
Google

Android 14

Google typically demos the latest version of Android at its annual developer conference, and this year is no exception. Android 14 was a major announcement at Google I/O 2023. The latest version of Android brings improvements in performance, privacy, and security. It was first announced in February 2023, and the first public beta followed two months later in April 2023. It can now be downloaded on compatible Pixel phones.

While at I/O, Dave Burke, VP of Engineering at Google, discussed new customisation options that will be available on the lock screen of Android 14. The lock screen on Android 14 will feature personalised clocks with font, colour, size, and design options, and new lock screen shortcuts for frequently used activities, such as turning on the flashlight, accessing the payment wallet, and scanning QR codes.

Google is adding AI-powered features to Android 14, too. Magic Compose will suggest text responses in Android Messages.

If you're eager to try out the latest Android operating system, the Android 14 Beta 1 is more stable than the developer preview, but it is still experimental software that may have bugs, so it's essential to back up your device before downloading. The Android 14 beta program will continue until the public release of Android 14, which is expected later in autumn 2023, and updates will be provided regularly.

Alongside the Android 14 updates, Google also announced an improvement to the Find My feature, which takes advantage of the large number of Android devices available to help locate missing devices. Users will be able to track their Android 14-powered phone with the help of any nearby Android devices, and third-party trackers like Tile can also be tracked via Find My. These new features are expected to launch in the summer 2023.

pixel7a2

Pixel 7a

Read: Google Pixel 7a vs Samsung Galaxy A54

Google announced the Pixel 7a at Google I/O 2023. The device is the successor to the popular Pixel 6a and offers flagship specs at a more affordable price point. It features a 6.1-inch OLED display, dual rear cameras, 8GB of RAM, and the same Tensor G2 hardware as the Pixel 7 Pro.

The phone runs on Android 13 and will receive four years of software updates.

The Pixel 7a is priced at $499 in the US and £449 in the UK and is available immediately for purchase. It has four colour options: Charcoal, Sea, Snow, and Coral, with the latter being exclusive to the Google Store. The device has a quality build, IP67 protection, and stereo speakers.

The Pixel 7a's camera is one of its standout features, offering great performance in all situations. However, according to Pocket-lint's Chris Hall, who has reviewed the phone, there is a bug when switching from the ultrawide to the main camera. He said the device's display is of good quality, with full HD resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone's hardware is also capable and supports features like hi-res audio, AI, and wireless charging.

Google Pixel Fold
Google / Pocket-lint

Pixel Fold

Read: Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

The Pixel Fold is Google's new $1,799 folding phone that transforms into a small tablet, competing directly with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4. The foldable boasts an OLED outer screen that measures 5.8 inches when closed and a flexible OLED inner screen that opens up to a 7.6-inch display. It also features a Tensor 2 processor, 12GB of RAM, either 256 or 512GB of storage, and a 4,800mAh battery split between two cells.

Other features include the five cameras: A 48-megapixel optically stabilised main camera, a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto. The device's hinge can also fold completely flat, and it has an IPX8 weather resistance rating. However, it does not support stylus input or output to an external display. Google is promises five years of software and security updates for the Pixel Fold.

Preorders start on 10 May, with shipping in June.

Google Pixel Tablet
Google

Pixel Tablet

Read: Google Pixel Tablet vs Apple iPad

The Google Pixel Tablet was first teased at Google I/O in 2022, but it officially released a year later at I/O 2023. It comes in Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose colours with a Charging Speaker Dock. The tablet starts at $499 in the US and £599 in the UK. It has a 10.95-inch display, 8GB RAM, and 128/256GB storage. It's powered by Google Tensor G2 and has an 8MP camera on both the back and front.

The Pixel Tablet measures 258 x 169 x 8.1mm and weighs 493g. It also comes with one Charging Speaker Dock, and additional docks can be purchased separately. The Pixel Tablet has the Google TV app and Chromecast built-in, and can be used in Hub Mode as a smart home control hub.

Google Bard
Image: Google
Google

Bard

Read: Google Bard: How the ChatGPT alternative works

Bard, Google's answer to OpenAI's ChatGPT, is an AI language model that can write poetry, fiction, and more. At I/O 2023, Google said it's now available to everyone and has been updated with improvements such as advanced math, reasoning skills, coding capabilities, and now supports over 180 countries and territories. Bard will become more visual, too, allowing users to include images with text in their prompts.

In the future, Bard will even integrate Adobe Firefly to generate high-quality images.

Coding upgrades have been incorporated as well, including source citations, dark theme, and an export button. Bard is also being connected with Google apps and other partners, including Kayak, OpenTable, ZipRecruiter, Instacart, Wolfram, and Khan Academy.

Wear OS 4
Image: Google

Wear OS 4

Read: Wear OS: Your complete guide to Google's smartwatch OS

Google is preparing for Wear OS 4, despite Wear OS 3 not being fully available to all yet. It will have improved battery life, accessibility features, and a backup/restore option. It also offers better smart home integrations -- allowing you to do tasks like adjust lighting, control media, and preview camera notifications. It's currently only available in a developer preview and emulator, withavailability expected later this year.

Google Search
Image: Google

Is that it?

There were several other announcements slipped into the keynote. Here are a few of the other noteworthy ones:

  • Google Search: Search is getting a major update called AI snapshots. By opting in to Search Generative Experience (SGE), you'll see AI-powered answers at the top of some search results, giving you more context. You can narrow the information in the snapshot with follow-up questions. These AI snapshots are powered by PaLM 2, an updated version of Google's large language model, which powers 25 other Google services and includes improvements in reasoning, coding, and translation.
  • Google Home: A revamped Google Home app will be available to all from 11 May, with major improvements such as a better camera interface, new Favorites tab, and expanded device support.
  • Google Perspectives: Google Search's new Perspectives will feature sources answers from various websites, including Reddit, Stack Overflow, YouTube, personal blogs, and more, to provide users with answers from actual humans.
  • Google Photos: Google Photos will offer an AI editing feature called Magic Editor. It can make edits to photos, including removing people in the background, enhancing the sky, and moving objects. It will be available in early access to select Pixel users later this year.
  • Duet AI: Google's newAI tools for Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Gmail is now called Duet AI, and includes features such as composing emails and generating images from text in Slides. Currently, these features are only available to those on the waitlist.