Google is preparing for its annual I/O conference with a dedicated online event, "The Android Show: I/O Edition," to unveil upcoming updates to the Android operating system. This standalone event is scheduled for Monday, May 13, at 10 am Pacific Time (10:30 pm Indian Standard Time) and will be streamed on YouTube and the Android website.

Sameer Samat, president of the Android Ecosystem at Google, will be a key speaker at the event, which takes place a week before the main Google I/O developer conference starting on May 20. The decision to hold a separate Android-focused event suggests that Google I/O will heavily emphasize Gemini and other artificial intelligence initiatives, including updates on Project Astra.

According to Sameer Samat, this event is designed to prepare the audience for even more announcements and surprises at Google I/O. While Android will still be present at I/O through keynotes and technical sessions, it will not be as central as in previous years. Instead, the main conference will likely focus on the broader AI landscape.

“The Android Show: I/O Edition” is expected to cover potential enhancements to Android 16, exclusive features for Pixel devices, and improvements for developers. A significant focus will be on deepening the integration of Gemini throughout the operating system, expanding the AI assistant’s capabilities across various applications and services. The final major beta version of Android 16 has already been released, promising substantial behind-the-scenes upgrades and visual changes.

New features anticipated in Android 16 include real-time notification updates for apps like Uber and Swiggy (similar to Live Activities in iOS), a notification cooldown feature to manage notification overload, a redesigned photo selection tool, enhanced accessibility options, and adaptable layouts optimized for different device types.