From CNET: As you'd expect, this year's Google I/O developer's conference focused almost exclusively on AI -- where the company's Gemini AI platform stands, where it's going and how much it's going to cost you now for its new AI Ultra subscription plan (spoiler: $250 per month). Meanwhile, a new Flow app expands the company's video-generation toolset, and its Android XR glasses make their debut.
Plus, all AI usage and performance numbers are up! (Given that a new 42.5-exaflop Ironwood Tensor processing unit is coming to Google Cloud later this year, they'll continue to rise.)
Google's Project Aura, a developer kit for Android XR that includes new AR glasses from Xreal, is the company's next step in the company's roadmap toward glasses-based, AI-driven extended reality. CNET's Scott Stein goes in-depth in an exclusive interview with Shahram Izadi, Google's VP and GM for Android XR, about that future. And headset-based Project Moohan, developed in conjunction with Samsung, is now available, and Google's working with Samsung to extend beyond headsets.
Google already held a separate event for Android, where it launched Android 16, debuting its new Material 3 Expressive interface, updates to security and an update on Gemini integration and features.
A lot of the whizzy new AI features are only available via one of its subscription levels. AI Pro is just a rebranding of Google's $20-per-month Gemini Advanced plan (adding some new features), but Google AI Ultra is a pricier new option -- $250 per month, with half off the first three months for the moment -- that provides access to the latest, spiffiest and least usage-limited of all its tools and models, as well as a prototype for managing AI agents and the 30 terabytes of storage you're going to need to store it all. They're both available today.
View: Full Article
