(Pocket-lint) – Google has announced when it will hold Google I / O this spring. Here’s everything you need to know about the annual developer conference, including what time it starts, how to stream it online, whether it is free watch, and what to expect from the opening keynote on Day One.
What is Google I / O?
The conference, which in the past years was a big-scale media event with thousands of journalists and developers in attendance, is a fully online affair that is completely free to watch.
Most people are usually most interested in the opening keynote on Day One, as that’s when Google’s CEO and other notable executives from the Mountain View-based company typically take the stage to announce big software and platform updates across its product portfolio. Google could discuss new features coming to the next major update to Android, innovative software experiences, and it might even unveil new hardware products. Long ago, Google also used the conference to wow attendees with impressive students.
In 2012, loud cheers from the crowd of about 6,000 developers and reporters, skydivers jumped out of a plane that flew over San Francisco and parachuted to the roof of the Moscone Center – where the conference was held that year. During their descent, they showed off the then-new Google Glass and streamed live video of their jump from the plane.
I / O has become much more scaled back – in large part due to the pandemic, which for the past three years has forced the conference to become virtual-only.
When is Google I / O 2022?
- Google I / O 2022 dates: Tuesday 11 May to Wednesday 12 May
- Opening keynote: Likely set for 18:00 BST on the first day
The developer conference will be streamed from the Shoreline Amphitheater from Tuesday 11 May to Wednesday 12 May. The opening keynote doesn’t have a start time yet, but last year it began at 18:00 BST. Google said there will be a limited audience of employees and partners in the audience.
While the Google I / O keynote will be the most interesting part of the two-day conference for consumers, Google is hosting other “sessions” for developers. These are virtual deep-dives that will go into the nitty-gritty of Google’s upcoming software and platform updates. They help developers better prepare their apps for any incoming changes.
We’ll be back live from Shoreline Amphitheater for this year’s #GoogleIO! Join us online May 11-12 https://t.co/KgNKbaLeym pic.twitter.com/NUodJb7UCi
– Sundar Pichai (undsundarpichai) March 16, 2022
How to watch Google I / O 2022
Keynote
Google will live-stream its I / O 2022 keynote via YouTube.
We plan to embed the video at the top of this page on event day. It will also be available on-demand following the event.
Sessions
The I / O 2022 site has the conference’s agenda and session schedules – so keep checking there for more. If you wish to join sessions, registration will be free and will begin sometime this month, according to FAQ page. There will be no tickets. All sessions will be available on-demand for anyone to watch.
What to expect at Google I / O 2022
Google typically holds this conference every year for developers, to get them up to speed with its latest innovations and to help them update their apps. But it also showcases new products or technologies for consumers, including new hardware. Last year, however, Google focused solely on software news. It announced:
With that in mind, we suspect Google will almost certainly discuss Android 13, as it recently released the first preview of that mobile OS update. It will probably also give an update on what’s happening with wearables and Fitbit, and we might even hear about some new ambitious project. Either way, expect most of the keynote to be focused on software news.
Want to know more?
Check out our Google hub for all the latest news from the company.
Writing by Maggie Tillman.
