O 2025: More AI in Gmail, Gemini, Search and Android XR
Google's AI models were updated to be better at making images, taking actions, and writing code.
The Google I/O conference took place in Mountain View, California on Tuesday. Picture: X/@sundarpichai
It was all about Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Google's annual I/O developer conference.
During the conference in Mountain View, California, on Tuesday, Google announced a series of updates that put more AI into Gemini, Search, Gmail, Chrome and Android XR.
The search giant's AI models were updated to improve their ability to make images, take actions, and write code.
AI
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company's search engine would feature an AI mode, boasting that 'decades of research' were reaching fruition with the new technology.
Gemini, which Google wants to turn into a universal AI assistant, is now testing out a new 'agent mode' that allows users to delegate complex tasks to the model, including apartment hunting and even replying to friends' messages.
'This is why we're working to extend our best multimodal foundation model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, to become a 'world model' that can make plans and imagine new experiences by understanding and simulating aspects of the world, just as the brain does,' Google said.
WATCH: I/O '25 in under 10 minutes
ALSO READ: Google takes issue with Competition Commission market inquiry report
Smart glasses
Some of the other big announcements made by Google include Android XR smart glasses.
While the Android XR will be available to headsets for a VR-like experience, Google's also rolling out its new platform to smart glasses.
A working prototype was shown off with demos of how Gemini is deeply integrated into the platform. Google also announced partners it's working with to make these Android XR smart glasses.
'It's the first Android platform built in the Gemini era, and it powers an ecosystem of headsets, glasses and everything in between,' Shahram Izadi, VP and GM, XR said in a blog post. 'With Gemini on these devices, you can have an assistant that's right there with you, sharing your vantage point, ready to help whenever you start the conversation'.
AI Mode
In a major update, Google said consumers across the United States now can switch Google Search into 'AI Mode,' one of the features, which is shopping, further confining people to their couches as they search for the latest fad.
'The Shopping Graph now has more than 50 billion product listings, from global retailers to local mom and pop shops, each with details like reviews, prices, colour options and availability,' Google said.
AI Ultra plan
Google also announced an 'AI Ultra Plan,' which for $249.99 (R4 470) monthly provides, for now US users only with higher limits on AI and early access to experimental tools like Project Mariner, an internet browser extension that can automate keystrokes and mouse clicks, and Deep Think, a version of its top-shelf Gemini model that is more capable of reasoning through complicated tasks.
The AI Ultra Plan has access to Gemini, Google's Veo 3 video generator, the company's new Flow video editing app, Whisk and NotebookLM
AI Ultra subscribers also get access to Google's Gemini chatbot in Chrome; some 'agentic' tools powered by the company's Project Mariner tech; YouTube Premium; and 30TB of storage across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail.
Gemini
Google also announced that Gemini Live's camera and screen-sharing capabilities will roll out this week to all users on iOS and Android.
The feature, powered by Project Astra, lets people have near-real time verbal conversations with Gemini, while also streaming video from their smartphone's camera or screen to the AI model.
Play Store
Google's Play Store is also being spruced up for Android developers with new tools to handle subscriptions and topic pages so users can dive into specific interests and audio samples to give people a sneak peek into app content, and a new smooth checkout experience to make selling add-ons easier.
ALSO READ: Acer announces new wearable gadgets at Computex 2025
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