Didn't recognize Google

At Google I/O 2026, the search giant showed clear ambition by integrating Gemini AI into everything from its familiar search box to its upcoming eyeglasses.

Gemini AI will be the centerpiece of the Google I/O 2026 event. Photo: Bloomberg .

The annual Google I/O 2026 developer conference took place on May 19th in Mountain View, California. In his nearly two-hour opening keynote, CEO Sundar Pichai announced a series of new products and features, all centered around the integration of Gemini AI.

This is the first Google I/O since the company announced the "Gemini era" in 2025. After years of being questioned about its ability to keep up with OpenAI, the search giant enters this year's event with more confidence.

The Gemini app has reached 900 million active users, matching ChatGPT. The company's annual revenue has more than doubled since 2022, reaching $132 billion . Therefore, I/O 2026 seems to be Google's showdown in the global AI race.

The search box has changed for the first time in 25 years.

The biggest highlight is the change to the Google search box, whose icon has remained virtually unchanged since 2001. The new search box is larger, more intuitive, and designed for users to ask longer questions and upload images or videos directly to their queries.

Google is changing the mechanism of its search engine. Photo: Bloomberg .

Additionally, users can ask follow-up questions directly on the main search page without switching to another tab. CEO Pichai called the combination of AI Overview and AI Mode "a breakthrough."

Google also introduced digital assistants, called "search agents," that can automatically track and notify users of new results without requiring them to actively search. For example, someone looking for an apartment can receive automatic notifications when new, matching listings become available.

"When people use our AI-powered features in their searches, they'll love it even more," Pichai said.

Gemini 3.5 Flash is superior.

At the event, Google launched Gemini 3.5 Flash, a model that combines advanced AI with the ability to perform automated tasks. Compared to Gemini 3.1 Pro, the new version outperforms most benchmarks. Gemini 3.5 Flash is four times faster than other advanced models in terms of output processing speed, while still maintaining the low cost of the Flash model.

The Gemini 3.5 Flash model boasts superior performance. Photo: TechCrunch .

This model will be implemented directly on the Gemini app, the Search engine, and the Antigravity 2.0 development platform.

Simultaneously, Google also unveiled Gemini Omni, a new model capable of receiving input including images, audio, video, and text, and creating editable videos using natural language. Omni's video creation tool is advertised as being able to create 10-second videos with "Hollywood quality," exclusively for subscribers to its AI service, which costs between $8 and $250 per month.

Gemini Spark: An AI assistant that works 24/7.

Gemini Spark is described as a "personal AI assistant that works 24/7." This feature is integrated into Gmail, Docs, and other Google Workspace products.

The Gemini Spark assistant operates continuously 24/7. Photo: TechCrunch .

Gemini Spark marks a major shift for Google, moving from a question-answering assistant to a proactive partner that performs tasks on behalf of users. Spark can consolidate scattered meeting notes from emails and messages into a single document.

This feature will launch next week for Google AI Ultra users in the US, before expanding to third-party tools via MCP this summer.

Smart Shopping and YouTube

Google is expanding AI into e-commerce with its Universal Cart feature, a smart shopping cart that allows users to save products directly on the search page or YouTube, instead of having to visit the seller's website. This cart automatically suggests discount codes and warns users when they select incompatible products.

On YouTube, Google also launched Ask YouTube, a conversational tool that helps search for videos using complex questions. Gemini Omni is also integrated into YouTube Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app, allowing creators to change video footage and style using text commands.

New smart glasses

One of the most anticipated announcements is the Gemini integrated smart glasses, launching this fall to compete directly with products from Samsung and Meta. Similar to Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the device is equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker, allowing users to ask Gemini about their surroundings without having to take out their phone.

Google's smart glasses will launch this fall. Photo: TechCrunch .

"These glasses have opened up a whole new avenue. I can actually provide my daughter with accurate information to answer her questions," Dave Gilboa, co-CEO of Warby Parker, shared his firsthand experience.

After a period of questioning its ability to compete with OpenAI, Google has significantly strengthened its position. The deep integration of Gemini into its products, from Search and YouTube to Gmail, is creating an advantage that startups will find difficult to replicate.

"With artificial intelligence, Google is turning everyone into a source of raw data. Every user interaction with search provides additional signals for them to refine their models and improve advertising," said Richard Kramer, a financial analyst at Arete Research.

Source: https://znews.vn/google-khang-dinh-vi-the-trong-cuoc-dua-ai-post1652724.html