Watch Google’s Android Show: I/O Edition live today
▼ Summary
– The Android Show: I/O Edition will stream live on YouTube and the Android website on May 12th at 10AM PT / 1PM ET, expected to be shorter than the main keynote.
– Android 17 is anticipated as the main event, possibly featuring visual tweaks despite Google’s denial of a “Liquid Glass” look, along with new features like app bubbles and enhanced location controls.
– The show may highlight updates to Google Gemini, including a broader rollout of a redesign with a pill-shaped prompt box and colorful accents similar to the teaser video.
– Aluminium OS, Google’s PC version of Android, might get its first official look, though a full launch could be delayed until 2028 for enterprise and education sectors, and older hardware may not be supported.
– Android XR may appear again in a teaser, possibly with smart glasses, though details might be saved for the main Google I/O keynote.
Google I/O might still be a week out, but the company is kicking off its announcements today with the “Android Show: I/O Edition.” This livestream is expected to preview the biggest Android ecosystem updates coming to the developer conference, serving as a shorter, more digestible warm-up before the main keynote.
When and where to watch the Android Show
The Android Show: I/O Edition streams live on YouTube and the Android website on Tuesday, May 12th at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Based on last year’s format, viewers can expect a rapid-fire look at the next major Android update, new Gemini features on Android, and possibly early teases of forward-looking projects like Aluminium OS and Android XR. Last year’s show clocked in at just over 20 minutes, a fraction of the nearly two-hour I/O keynote.
Android 17 takes center stage
The main draw of Tuesday’s show will almost certainly be Android 17. A 15-second teaser video sparked speculation about a major design shift, showing the Android robot morph from solid green into a translucent, glassy form with splashes of color. Some users wondered if Google was adopting a Liquid Glass aesthetic similar to iOS 26, but Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat quickly shut that down, replying to a post with a firm “Not happening!”
While the look may not be Liquid Glass, it does echo early glimpses of the Gemini app redesign appearing on macOS, iOS, and Android. That means Android 17 could still feature noticeable visual tweaks, which Google will likely detail alongside new features and a release window. Early developer previews have already revealed promising additions like “app bubbles” , small, movable windows that let users multitask like on a PC , and improved location controls, including one-time sharing permissions and an indicator for when a non-system app accesses your location.
Gemini gets deeper Android integration
The Android Show is also expected to highlight updates for Google Gemini, especially features baked directly into the operating system or its dedicated Android app. One likely announcement is the broader rollout of the Gemini redesign already spotted by some users. It features a pill-shaped prompt box with streamlined buttons and subtle color splashes in the background, closely matching the glassy look from the Android robot teaser.
Aluminium OS: Android on PCs
This year’s show could offer our first official look at Aluminium OS, Google’s PC version of Android. A leaked bug report from January showed screen recordings of a UI blending elements of both Android and ChromeOS. Even if Google shows it off Tuesday, a full release may still be years away. Court documents from Google’s search antitrust case note that Samat hopes to launch it in 2026, but a broader rollout , especially for enterprise and education , might not happen until 2028. This year’s version could be limited to beta testing, and it may not support older Chromebooks due to “heavier software” requirements.
Android XR could make a return
Last year’s Android Show ended with a teaser for Android XR, as Samat wore a pair of XREAL smart glasses ahead of more announcements at Google I/O 2025. It’s possible those glasses will reappear this year, though Google might again save the full reveal for the main keynote. Either way, the Android Show is shaping up to be a packed, efficient preview of what’s to come.
(Source: The Verge)
