Google used its I/O 2026 keynote to make one thing clear: artificial intelligence is no longer a side project. The company is now placing AI agents at the centre of search, Gmail, YouTube, shopping, and even wearable devices.
While the event offered little in the way of dramatic hardware reveals, it showed how deeply Gemini is being woven into Google’s ecosystem.
Gemini 3.5 arrives
The headline software launch was Gemini 3.5 Flash, a faster and cheaper version of Google’s latest AI model. It is now the default across the Gemini app and several Google services, while Gemini 3.5 Pro is expected next month.
Google claims the model improves efficiency and performance, especially for everyday tasks and conversational prompts.
Search gets more chatty
Google is redesigning search around AI-powered interactions. Its new “intelligent search box” supports natural language questions and allows users to add images, videos, files, and browser tabs into searches.
Search results will also become more dynamic. Instead of static links, users may see AI-generated layouts combining videos, articles, and images depending on the query.
The company is also introducing search agents that can monitor things like ticket prices, apartment listings, or product drops in the background and alert users when something changes.
Gemini Spark takes on daily tasks
One of the biggest announcements was Gemini Spark, a cloud-based assistant designed to manage personal tasks continuously in the background.
Spark can connect with Gmail, Docs, and third-party apps, including Uber and OpenTable. Google says it can help organise schedules, book services, and manage shopping lists while users are busy elsewhere.
To avoid unwanted spending, purchases still require approval through Google’s new Agent Payments Protocol.
Voice AI across Gmail, Docs, YouTube
Google is adding voice-powered AI tools to several products. Gmail Live allows users to ask questions about their inbox, while Docs Live can turn rough spoken ideas into structured documents with AI-generated edits and citations.
YouTube is also getting “Ask YouTube”, which surfaces relevant clips and jumps directly to moments that answer a user’s question.
Smarter shopping tools
Shopping is becoming increasingly automated. Google introduced a universal shopping cart that gathers products from different retailers into one place.
Gemini can track prices, suggest alternatives, and complete purchases using Google’s payment system without requiring users to revisit every retailer separately.
Gemini Omni and Flow focus on creativity
Google also revealed Gemini Omni, a new multimodal AI tool capable of editing and generating videos from text, images, and audio inputs.
Meanwhile, Flow — Google’s creative AI suite — now offers tools for generating music videos, animated clips and polished audio tracks from simple prompts or uploaded images.
Android XR smart glasses
On the hardware side, Google previewed Android XR glasses developed with Samsung, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster.
The first models arriving later this year focus on audio and voice interaction, allowing Gemini to answer questions about the world through built-in cameras and speakers. Future versions will include displays for live translations, messages, and navigation overlays.
