It is arduous to imagine, however this week marked one more Google I/O within the books. This yr’s presentation felt like a throwback to the earliest days of Google’s annual convention, specializing in software program instruments and in-depth developer instruments moderately than highlighting new devices or developments in Pixel {hardware}. But, I/O 2024 felt deeply rooted within the tech area’s present meta, with two hours of wall-to-wall AI references. And whereas it could be too early to essentially know whether or not or not this keynote was successful, it is nonetheless price speaking about your preliminary emotions.
I believe this yr’s I/O is certain to go down as one of the vital divisive lately. Greater than ever, it cemented Google as an AI firm, with Gemini infecting almost each side of the corporate. With AI Overview formally out there on all accounts, search outcomes won’t ever be the identical. Undertaking Astra left our personal Taylor Kerns impressed in its earliest demo, and it appears destined to eat the lunches of devoted {hardware} firms Humane and Rabbit. And on Android — AP’s bread and butter, after all — Gemini Nano continues to develop extra highly effective, whereas Assistant’s days really feel, for the primary time, actually numbered.
Personally, I might say my emotions are blended. It isn’t that a few of Gemini’s new toolsets do not appear fascinating, however I am nonetheless not sure how I will issue most of them into my on a regular basis life. The precise convention itself felt disjointed, missing the tight sectioned cohesion of different I/O displays, and and not using a {hardware} tease to anchor these options to, it simply wasn’t as much as the identical stage of pleasure as in earlier years.
Actually although, our collective true opinions on this present may not rise to the floor till the vast majority of the functions proven on stage in Mountain View truly launch in earnest. A few of these appear destined to reach with the Pixel 9 later this yr, whereas others might simply slip again far sufficient to reappear at subsequent yr’s I/O. Regardless, there is not any higher time than this weekend to take a fast straw ballot of how everybody feels about this week’s presentation, and I can not consider a greater approach to do it than with a fast, straightforward grading system.
Whether or not you’d give Google I/O 2024 an A or an F, we have got a ballot choice for you. Whether or not you are enthusiastic about Gemini or inherently distrustful, upset within the lack of {hardware} or excited for the singular focus Google is providing, tell us within the ballot under — and, if you would like, increase in your emotions within the remark part.