Google I/O 2025: What to expect with Gemini, Android 16, and Project Astra

The latest news from Google-land is all Gemini, Gemini, Gemini. And at Google I/O 2025, we expect more of the same.

A year after its last big event, Google is back with an even deeper dive into AI. So deep, in fact, that Android is being shuffled off into its own separate event.

A signal of something big? Maybe.

Ahead of I/O 2025, Google quietly dropped a developer preview of Gemini 2.5 Pro, its latest generative AI model. Translation: this year’s keynote isn’t just about flashy hardware or Android updates — it’s about code, algorithms, and the general direction of Google’s artificial intelligence goals.

Whether you're a developer, a die-hard Android fan, or just here for the spectacle, here’s what to expect from Google I/O 2025.

When is the Google I/O 2025 keynote?

The big keynote for Google I/O is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT. Here’s when it will be happening around the globe:

• New York: 1 p.m.

• Chicago: 12 p.m.

• London: 6 p.m.

• Honolulu: 7 a.m.

• Dubai: 9 p.m.

• Paris: 7 p.m.

• Mumbai: 11:30 p.m.

What to expect

Android 16

With less than two weeks to go before I/O 2025, the curtain is already being pulled back on Android 16. The headline here is a fresh evolution of Google's design language, shifting from Material 3 to the more vibrant and customizable Material Design 3 Expressive. While the redesign was expected to debut at I/O, Google, true to form, self-leaked the details in a now-deleted blog post.

But Android isn’t waiting for its moment in the spotlight. Thanks to Google's all-in push on Gemini, Android is stepping out a week early with the Android Show: I/O edition, airing on May 13. Hosted by Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, the show will have “so many things to share,” according to Google.

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As for what Android 16 will bring, the beta has already given us a sneak peek. Features like Auracast support hint at smoother Bluetooth switching, while visual tweaks, quality-of-life upgrades, and the introduction of “summarized notifications” suggest a more streamlined, user-friendly experience across the board.

Leaks suggest a Q2 launch, sometime around June.

WearOS

Wear OS fans, this one's (almost) for you.

While the I/O 2025 stage may be dominated by AI and Android, Google hasn’t completely forgotten about your wrist. Wear OS 5.1 quietly dropped in March, delivering some relatively minor improvements like better step tracking and revamped media controls.

But if you’re hoping for Wear OS 6 to make a surprise cameo during the keynote, don’t. If anything, the announcement of OS 6 will probably come in July, just like OS 4 and 5 did.

Android XR

Fourth time’s the charm — at least, that’s what Google hopes.

After the quiet burial of Google Glass, the slow fade of Daydream, and the DIY novelty of Cardboard, Google is once again diving headfirst into immersive tech with Android XR. Built from the ground up with Gemini AI in mind, this new operating system is aimed squarely at powering the next wave of AR and VR wearables.

Things may be different now with Google's collaboration with Samsung on Project Moohan — a pair of XR glasses using Google’s OS. Details are sparse, and it’s unclear whether Moohan will make a cameo at I/O 2025, but you can bet Android XR will get some stage time. Expect Google to name names when it comes to new partners and paint a picture of an XR ecosystem that might have staying power.

AI

Google is an AI company now, full stop. And I/O 2025 is shaping up to be less about what Google makes and more about how much smarter it can make everything.

At the center of it all is Gemini. With version 2.5 Pro already in developers’ hands, expect Google to go deep on performance gains, real-world integrations, and new ways Gemini is flexing across platforms. (As of this writing, Gemini 2.5 Pro tops AI leaderboards.)

Google is bringing AI to everything, so expect announcements on a bunch of AI-related features: cars, smartwatches, earbuds, even your toaster, probably. Context-aware assistants, predictive interfaces, and on-device models will dominate the demos. It's either thrilling or exhausting, depending on how many times you’ve heard the phrase "AI-first strategy."

We'll also probably get updates on Project Astra, Google's research prototype for a universal AI. Also on deck is a mobile version of NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research assistant.