Google IO 2023 is this year’s version of the search giant’s developer conference, which is likely to see some big tech announcements – including the arrival of Android 14 and the public arrival of its Bing-competing Bard chatbot.
We now know that the Google IO 2023 keynote will be on May 10th, so that’s the date for techies to mark their Google calendars. This year, the keynote will be held in front of a limited live audience, but there’s also the usual live stream for those who can’t make it to California.
So what exactly are we expecting at Google IO 2023 and how can you tune in? We’ve rounded up all the key information about Google’s equivalent of Apple’s WWDC (which usually takes place in June) in this handy round-up.
With the rise of AI chatbots like Microsoft’s new ChatGPT-powered Bing, rumors understandably predict that Google will be even further integrating artificial intelligence into most of its services this year. But with Android 14 also likely to feature prominently, Google IO 2023 is likely a must-have for tech fans of all stripes.
Table of Contents
In a nutshell
- What is it? Google’s annual developer conference
- When is it? May 10, 2023
- How can I register and what does it cost? You can register on the Google events page (opens in new tab) and it’s free – all you need is a Google account.
What are the dates of the Google IO 2023?
Google has announced that its developer conference and keynote will be held on Wednesday, May 10th. Unlike last year, it will be a one-day event.
The timing of the traditional keynote has not yet been confirmed, but we expect it to take place around 13:00 ET / 18:00 GMT on May 10th, which works until around 4:00am AEST on May 11th .
This was the time of last year’s Google IO 2022 keynote, but we’ll update this page once we get an official time.
How to register for Google IO 2023
While it is not possible to request an in-person ticket for Google IO 2023, you can register online to gain access to all virtual sessions, keynotes and news. To sign up, just go to the Google IO events page (opens in new tab) and sign in with your default Google account.
You don’t have to register to see all keynotes and sessions, but it does have the benefit of getting the latest developer news via what Google calls “non-spam email.” You also get a developer profile, which allows you to save relevant videos and watch them later, which is not possible without registering.
With the Google IO 2023 sessions expected to cover everything from Android to AI to machine learning, it’s worth signing up if you have developer ambitions (or are just interested in the basics of Google apps).
What to expect at Google IO 2023
It’s still pretty early days for Google IO rumors, but based on a combination of recent leaks and previous editions of the conference, we can get a good idea of the kind of announcements we’re likely to see.
So here are, in rough order of likelihood, the key things we’re expecting at Google IO 2023 – and if we’re getting an added bonus like Google’s AR Live translation glasses, so much the better.
1. Google Bard and AI Announcements
Google is in a bind with AI chatbots. On the one hand, it needs to show that it has the technology to compete with ChatGPT-powered Bing – which is why it announced Google Bard in February, saying the chatbot would be open to the public in “the coming weeks”.
But acc CNBC (opens in new tab), a recent internal Google meeting apparently made it very clear that “Bard is not search”. For this reason, at Google IO 2023 we will likely continue to present the AI chatbot as an “experimental AI service for conversation” and not as a next-gen version of Google search. Whether we’ll see Bard open to the public before or during the conference remains to be seen.
Chatbots are also just a small part of AI technology, and Google’s IO conference has traditionally seen previews of artificial intelligence and machine learning working in its apps. For example, at Google IO 2018 we got a glimpse of Google Duplex, a virtual agent that can make calls for you, while at Google IO 2022 AI was subtly integrated into products like Google Docs.
Expect more of the same at Google IO 2023, but with a much stronger AI theme than last year’s developer conference. For example after a Report of the New York Times (opens in new tab)we could see features like “Shopping Try-on” (a YouTube feature that lets you try on virtual clothes at home) and a Dall-E rival that lets you create and edit images.
2. A good look at Android 14
The latest Android OS is already included developer preview phase (opens in new tab) and will be released in beta form sometime between mid-March and April. However, Android 14 won’t be released to the public until August, so we expect Google to spend a lot of time outlining the software’s new tricks at Google IO 2023.
Expected new features include support for satellite communications and the ability to handle passkeys, which could finally replace passwords and are said to be both more secure and easier to use.
Of course, we also expect Android 14 to bring some quality of life upgrades, including improved efficiency, improved battery life, and some improved accessibility features. It will also likely improve OS security somewhat, but of course some phones will miss the Android 14 update – including the Google Pixel 4a.
3. The arrival of the Google Pixel 7a
Google hasn’t been consistent with its mid-range A-model Pixel launches, but it’s still a pretty good bet that we’ll see the Google Pixel 7a.
As with the Google Pixel 6a, we expect its successor to be announced at least in May, which would make Google IO 2023 the most sensible place to unveil it. But it could well ship later – the Pixel 6a, for example, wasn’t available for purchase until two months after it was announced in July 2022.
(Image credit: @OnLeaks / SmartPrix)
So far there haven’t been any major Pixel 7a leaks, but it’s expected to have Google’s latest Tensor G2 chipset and a design that looks very similar to the Google Pixel 7 (which again means there’s no headphone jack).
In January, some hands-on videos also suggested the Pixel 7a could have a 90Hz screen, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but for now that’s all speculation. Expect Google to bring us the official Skinny on stage at Google IO 2023.
4. A launch date for a Google Pixel tablet (finally)
The Google Pixel tablet was already introduced to the world at Google IO 2022, but incredibly, it still hasn’t landed in stores. That could possibly change at Google IO 2023.
Despite fears that the Pixel tablet could go straight to the infamous Google graveyard, the company has confirmed that it intends to launch the Pixel tablet sometime in 2023. The question now is when.
We think a launch at Google’s traditional Pixel event in October is more likely, but it seems likely that the company will at least mention the tablet at its developer conference in May.
Finally, it’s said to run Android 12L, which is designed for devices with larger screens, and also have Google’s latest Tensor G2 chipset. That makes it a contender for a place in our guide to the best Android tablets, so hopefully we’ll hear more about it soon.
5. A debut for the Google Pixel Fold
Another announcement in the “maybe” category for Google IO 2023 is a long-awaited announcement for the Google Pixel Fold.
We’ve been expecting Google’s version of the foldable phone since late 2022. But now the latest rumors are pointing to a May launch, which would go well with Google’s developer conference.
Unfortunately, those rumors have dampened our enthusiasm for the rival Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, as the leaked images suggest it could effectively be a chunkier Pixel phone with surprisingly large bezels above and below the display.
With a projected price point of around US$1,799 (about £1,520 / AU$2,660), it’s shaping up to be a niche phone. But our interest was piqued again by the suggestion that the Pixel Fold, like the Google Pixel 7 Pro, could have three cameras. If so, it could possibly be the best foldable camera phone out there.
6. New tricks for Google Maps, Google Lens and more
A staple of the Google IO conferences are fancy new tricks for services like Google Maps, Google Translate and Google Lens, which then disappear for several months before finally launching.
At Google IO 2022, for example, we first saw the immersive view of Google Maps, which looked super handy for everything from neighborhood vibe-checking to our favorite new photo buddy.
But the feature only rolled out in February at Google’s Live from Paris event in five cities (that’s London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo). Whatever you see announced at Google IO 2023, wait a while to see it on your phone or laptop.
However, with AI expected to be a big topic at the conference, there could be some really impressive updates to come for Google Translate, Google Maps, Google Docs, Google Lens and more.
7. A makeover for Wear OS
Last year was a big year for Google-powered smartwatches – at Google IO 2022 we saw the Google Pixel Watch finally being announced with Wear OS 3.
Since then, the Apple Watch-rival platform has grown steadily thanks to the launch of Wear OS 3.5 and some of the best Wear OS watches we’ve seen to date, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
What will we see at Google IO 2023? So far there have been no major rumours, but some new Wear OS design guidelines suggest that Google is really pushing the consistency and shine of the software experience, and new Wear OS players like Xiaomi have been heavily rumoured.
It may be too early to preview Watch OS 4 at Google IO 2023, but we expect some announcements that will give another powerful boost to the growing momentum of the smartwatch platform.
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