Google is making a surprising move ahead of its big I/O developer conference next month. Instead of unveiling Android updates during the main event, the company has decided to host a separate virtual session called “The Android Show: I/O Edition,” which will stream on May 13.
This shift marks a noticeable change in how Google handles its biggest software updates. Traditionally, Android took center stage at I/O. However, this year, it looks like artificial intelligence will dominate the spotlight even more than usual. In recent years, AI updates have already been taking up larger chunks of Google’s keynote presentations, and this new move only fuels expectations of an AI-heavy agenda.
Google, though, is putting a positive spin on the change. According to the company, there’s simply “so much new” to share about Android that it made sense to spin it off into its own event. The special edition of The Android Show — typically a video podcast — will serve as an extra platform to dive into all the latest developments across the Android ecosystem.
Even with the new format, Android won’t be entirely absent from I/O. Google confirmed that Android will still feature during the main keynotes and within technical sessions for developers.
Still, moving the bulk of Android news outside of the main conference is a major programming shift. Whether this move is due to an overwhelming volume of Android updates or a strategic decision to prioritize AI content over Android remains unclear. Either way, it signals how Google’s priorities are evolving — and what developers and consumers can expect from this year’s I/O.
