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TL;DR: Work smarter, not harder with some help from this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale for $44.97 (reg. $219) now through May 31.

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Devoted Mac users, listen up. Just because you prefer Apple products doesn’t mean you have to miss out on one of the greatest ones Microsoft has to offer. This lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 gives users permanent access to six helpful apps for just $44.97 — less than $8 each — now through May 31.

Mac lovers can experience the best of Microsoft with this Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 license. It takes away the need for expensive monthly subscriptions to Microsoft 365 and lets you own six powerful Office apps with one low payment.

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This license is linked to your Microsoft account and allows you to install this suite on your Mac for life. It includes the Microsoft Office staples people have relied on for decades at home and work — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Aside from these classics, you’ll also get permanent access to new favorites like OneNote, which helps streamline note-taking, and Teams, which keeps you connected to coworkers, friends, and family.

Make sure your device is running macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia, or macOS 26 Tahoe before you purchase. If you run into any issues, free customer service is available to help.

Outfit your go-to Apple device with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, now just $44.97 until May 31.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

When most buyers start hunting for a reliable SUV, they usually end up looking at the same handful of Japanese models. The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V have built such strong reputations over the years that plenty of people never even consider anything else.

For years, smart glasses have existed in a kind of aesthetic purgatory: too techy for fashion people, too awkward for mainstream consumers, and often associated with the exact kind of guy who makes everyone in the coffee shop (or Pilates class) extremely uncomfortable. Even when tech bros promised that smart eyewear represented the future, the frames themselves rarely looked like something anyone actually wanted to wear outside a product demo.

That's why Google and Samsung's new collaboration with South Korean luxury eyewear label Gentle Monster feels notable. More than a tech announcement, the partnership signals a broader shift in how Silicon Valley is approaching wearable AI: by finally admitting that people care what these things look like.

Unveiled during Google I/O 2026, the collaboration marks the first public reveal of Google's Android XR smart glasses developed with Gentle Monster and Samsung. The glasses, arriving later this year, will feature built-in speakers, microphones, and a camera, allowing wearers to listen to music, take calls, snap photos, and interact with Google's Gemini AI assistant hands-free.

But the actual technology almost feels secondary to the pitch; these are smart glasses designed to be stylish first.

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Google and Samsung unveiled the first design from their intelligent eyewear collaboration with Gentle Monster. Credit: Samsung

And unlike earlier attempts at wearable tech, they actually look fashionable. The slim oval-shaped black frames and narrow tinted lenses lean fully into Gentle Monster's signature aesthetic: sleek, slightly futuristic, and unmistakably fashion-forward. Instead of looking like conspicuous gadgets, the glasses resemble the kind of Y2K-inspired eyewear already dominating runways, K-pop airport photos, and downtown street style. They feel less like a Silicon Valley prototype and more like a cool girl accessory. Expect celebs and creators to start styling these immediately.

Pricing remains a mystery — though given Gentle Monster's positioning in the luxury market, these likely won't be impulse-buy territory. The brand's regular eyewear already tends to hover between roughly $250 and $400, with some statement styles climbing even higher.

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"We believe that for intelligent eyewear to become part of people's daily lives, it first must be great eyewear," Juston Payne, senior director of product management for Android XR at Google, told fashion trade WWD. "Eyewear is very personal — it is part of how people project who they are to the world."

That sentiment represents a major departure from earlier generations of wearable tech, which often prioritized utility over aesthetics. Products like Google Glass became cultural punchlines partly because they looked alienating and conspicuously futuristic. Wearing them announced not just that you liked technology, but that you wanted everyone else to know it.

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Diane von Furstenberg wears a pair of limited-edition DVF | Made for Glass Google Inc. glasses in 2014. Credit: Scott Eells/Bloomberg via Getty Images Meta tech exec Andrew Bosworth wears a pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses in 2024. Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The newer generation of smart glasses has taken a different route. Meta found success with its Ray-Ban collaboration by embedding cameras and AI features into familiar silhouettes instead of reinventing eyewear entirely. Now Google appears to be pushing even further into fashion territory by partnering with a brand that already possesses cultural credibility beyond tech circles.

That credibility is exactly what made Gentle Monster such an inspired choice. Over the past decade, the Seoul-based label has become known for its experimental silhouettes, celebrity co-signs, and immersive retail spaces that feel more like art installations than optical stores. The brand’s oversized frames and sculptural designs have turned eyewear into a genuine fashion statement, embraced by K-pop idols like BLACKPINK's Jennie and Stray Kids' Felix, models, and fashion obsessives alike.

The Gentle Monster (left) and Warby Parker (right) Android XR smart glasses made in partnership with Google and Samsung. Credit: Samsung

Google clearly understands what Gentle Monster brings to the table. "We have admired Gentle Monster’s work for many years," Payne told WWD, praising the brand's "iconoclastic approach" and ability to create emotional experiences around eyewear.

And honestly, that emotional connection may be the missing ingredient smart glasses have needed all along. Consumers were never going to embrace AI eyewear if the frames made them feel self-conscious.

That's especially true as AI hardware increasingly moves from novelty gadgets to lifestyle accessories. Smart glasses aren't being marketed as replacements for phones anymore, but as seamless extensions of existing digital habits. Google says Gemini will work alongside users' phones and apps, allowing wearers to interact with information while remaining visually engaged with the world around them.

But functionality alone won't sell this category. Style will.

And for perhaps the first time, tech companies seem to understand that the future of wearable AI may depend less on convincing people that smart glasses are useful — and more on convincing people they look cool. The catch is that the more invisible and stylish the technology becomes, the easier it may be to overlook the privacy concerns built into it.

Looking for more Google I/O announcements? Follow the Mashable Google I/O live blog to see all of the latest news on Gemini, Chrome, and Android.

Most off-the-shelf travel routers are only good for a handful of things. They can share a Wi-Fi network, run a VPN, and even share files. The travel router I built out of a Raspberry Pi can do everything a regular travel router can, but it can do almost anything else you can imagine. Here are 5 ways I've expanded what my travel router can do.

Luxury SUVs are often associated with expensive repairs, complicated technology, and long-term ownership headaches. While many premium brands prioritize flashy performance and cutting-edge features, reliability can sometimes take a back seat. That’s why this Japanese luxury SUV continues to stand out in a segment where dependability is becoming increasingly rare.

Google's I/O 2026 developer conference has finally wrapped, and the keynote was, truthfully, a bit of a snooze for non-developers. The headline Gemini news amounted to a half-step update in Gemini 3.5 Flash, with the word "agentic" getting a full workout.

Google is "building a new agentic era," as one executive put it on the stage. The big theme this year: let Gemini do the heavy lifting. Emails, dinner reservations, vacation planning, shopping — Gemini wants to be your everything solution. The twist is Google now wants it done autonomously, within limits, naturally.

Hardware was equally quiet. The most notable announcement was a pair of smart glasses the company is calling "audio glasses" — essentially Google's answer to Meta Ray-Bans, but leaning harder into style with collaborations from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The goal seems to be making camera glasses that don't scream, "I am wearing camera glasses."

All told, it was a characteristically uneventful show — which, let's be honest, is basically the I/O keynote tradition at this point. But there was still plenty announced worth digging into, so here's the full rundown.

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Gemini 3.5 Flash is the new default model

Google launched the first model in the new Gemini 3.5 line today, and it's available now in the Gemini app and other Google AI products. Google execs said that a new flagship model, Gemini 3.5 Pro, would be coming in June.

Gemini 3.5 Flash beats most frontier models in benchmarks and token efficiency, according to Google. The company says it also surpasses Gemini 3.1 Pro in most respects. You can start using it right away at gemini.google.com.

Credit: Google Gemini Spark wants to run your life

The splashiest announcement of the keynote was Gemini Spark, a cloud-based AI agent that runs continuously in the background, handling tasks while you're busy doing everything else. As I wrote during its announcement, it's possibly the most ambitious thing Google has put on stage in a while. At least, the most ambitious of anything else announced at I/O today.

Powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash and built with Google's Antigravity coding IDE, Spark connects to Gmail, Docs, and eventually over 30 third-party apps, including Uber, OpenTable, Lyft, and Zillow. It rolls out to AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. next week.

To stop it from going rogue with your credit card, Google talked about Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), which caps what Spark can spend, where it can shop, and what it can buy. For now, you still approve every transaction. The company described Spark as a teenager getting their first debit card and stated that over time, the agent will get looser guardrails as trust is built.

Google's AI subscription tiers got cheaper

Google reshuffled its AI subscription lineup at I/O, and the headline is that things got more affordable. As I reported earlier, the new entry point for AI Ultra is $99.99/month — down from $250 — aimed at developers and power users, bundling Gemini 3.5 Flash, 5x the usage limits of Pro, priority access to Google Antigravity, 20TB of storage, and a full YouTube Premium plan. The $250 tier still exists but drops to $200. The full lineup now sits at AI Plus ($7.99), AI Pro ($19.99), and AI Ultra (starting at $99.99).

Credit: Google

Google is also ditching the per-prompt counting model in favor of measuring compute used, meaning a simple text query barely dents your limit while a complex video task costs more. Limits also now refresh every five hours instead of daily, and if you hit your cap, Google automatically steps you down to a lighter model rather than cutting you off entirely.

Gmail is getting a live voice mode

Gmail Live, a new feature reported by Mashable's Haley Henschel, lets you verbally ask your inbox questions instead of typing searches. The pitch is pretty straightforward — ask what your flight's gate number is or what's happening at your kid's school this week, and Gmail pulls the answer from your emails. Similar conversational features are also coming to Google Docs and Keep. Gmail Live rolls out this summer for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, with a Workspace preview at the same time.

AI Inbox, which started as an Ultra-only feature earlier this year, is getting three new additions and broader access for Pro and Plus subscribers. The updates include personalized draft replies, instant access to relevant Docs and Sheets, and one-click task management to clear out inbox clutter. Those features start rolling out today. Gmail VP of product Blake Barnes said in a media pre-brief that user data isn't used for training on either feature, and that sourcing is being built in so you can see exactly which emails informed a given response.

Google Search gets its biggest overhaul in 25 years Credit: Google

Search — the thing that made Google Google — is getting another serious injection of AI. The company is throwing a lot at its flagship product this year, and most of it falls under the same "let Gemini handle it" umbrella that dominated the keynote.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2026: Even more AI is coming to Google Search

The most symbolically significant update might be the new intelligent AI Search Box, which Google is billing as the first redesign of its search box in over 25 years. The expanded box now supports natural language queries and lets you attach images, videos, files, and even Chrome tabs alongside your search. Basically, Google wants you to stop Googling and start... talking to Google.

Credit: Google / YouTube

AI Overviews is also getting a back-and-forth conversation mode. Users can now ask follow-up questions directly within the Overview, turning what was a static summary into more of a chatbot exchange. It's a logical evolution, even if it continues to beg the question of what happens to the websites that used to get that traffic.

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Search Agents

The bigger swing: Google introduced Search agents, which are essentially AI assistants that run 24/7 in the background, scanning news sites, blogs, and social media on your behalf. Google's example use cases — tracking apartment listings, monitoring sneaker drops — are genuinely useful, though the catch is that these information agents are locked to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers when they launch this summer.

The agentic push extends to shopping and booking too, where agents can surface live prices, availability, and direct booking links. Google is also letting agents make actual phone calls to businesses on your behalf — a feature rolling out to all users this summer.

Google is broadening access to Personal Intelligence in Search, its feature that connects your Gmail, Google Photos, and soon Google Calendar, so Search can factor in your personal context. It's opt-in, and Google is quick to note users maintain control over their data, which is the kind of thing you say when you know people are going to ask.

Rounding things out, Google is folding AI coding tools powered by Google Antigravity directly into Search, with a clear push toward non-developers. Think custom fitness trackers or wedding planning dashboards — Gemini for people who've never touched a line of code.

Google and Samsung's smart glasses are real, just unnamed Credit: Google

The hardware story of the show was the first real look at Android XR smart glasses. Google and Samsung pulled back the curtain on two styles — one in collaboration with Gentle Monster, one with Warby Parker — both arriving this fall. There's still no name and no price, but the design is clearly meant to avoid the "obviously tech glasses" look that has plagued the category.

Google is deliberately calling these "audio glasses" to distinguish them from future display glasses. Functionally, they're in the same territory as Meta's Ray-Bans — voice commands, phone pairing, hands-free assistance — but with deep Gemini integration baked in. Samsung handled the hardware, and Google handles the AI and Android XR platform.

Credit: Samsung Google Shopping gets an overhaul Credit: Google

Shopping reporter Samantha Mangino broke down three new Google Shopping features announced at I/O, and the headliner is Universal Cart — a single cart that aggregates everything you've added across retailers like Target and Amazon into one Google-side view, working in the background to flag price drops and restock alerts. It hits Google and Gemini in the US this summer, with Gmail and YouTube support to follow.

The bigger structural move is Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), which lets AI agents complete purchases and hotel bookings directly through partners, including Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, and Meta. It also surfaces relevant fees and card rewards automatically so you know what you're actually paying before you check out.

Docs Live Credit: Google

Google announced Docs Live, a new feature that lets you dump your word vomit and thoughts into Gemini and have it turn them into a structured document in real time. From there, you can refine it conversationally — just tell Gemini what to fix, add, or cut, and it updates on the spot.

SynthID gets a big lift Credit: Google / YouTube

One of the bigger under-the-radar moments of the keynote: Google's AI digital watermarking tool SynthID is being adopted by OpenAI, Kakao, and ElevenLabs. The Google project is now becoming an industry standard in fighting against AI-generated content, and it's also a rare moment of cross-company alignment in the AI space.

In addition, SynthID will also be easily accessible in Chrome and Google Search. As Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in the keynote, that means users will be able to right-click and quickly see if an image or video contains a SynthID, and thus is likely AI-generated.

Gemini Omni is Google's new world model Credit: Google

Google unveiled Gemini Omni at I/O, its new multimodal world model. While Google is positioning it as a model that can "create anything from any output," the keynote demo leaned heavily into video generation. The first release in the family, Gemini Omni Flash, is available today for paid AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers in the Gemini app and Google Flow, with a free rollout to YouTube Shorts and YouTube Create later this week.

Unlike text-to-video tools like Veo, Omni is multimodal in both directions — you can feed it text, audio, images, or video, and it generates back accordingly. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis called it a "meaningful step" toward AGI at the keynote. The practical showcase was mostly about video editing through conversation, like swapping backgrounds, changing angles, and adjusting specific details in a clip. There's also an Avatar feature for creating a digital likeness of yourself, though Google says it's still being tested before a broader rollout. All Omni-generated videos get embedded with Google's SynthID watermark to identify them as AI-generated.

YouTube gets two updates, neither of them huge

YouTube got a relatively light showing at I/O compared to the rest of Google's product slate — but there were two things worth flagging.

Gemini Omni is coming to YouTube Shorts Remix, the platform's AI creation tool that generates videos from existing content. Creators will be able to use more advanced AI prompts to remix their Shorts, with AI-generated content labels and links back to the original source automatically applied. Google also expanded its likeness detection tool — which flags content where a creator's face has been AI-altered — to all creators 18 and older.

SEE ALSO: Google launches Gemini 3.5 Flash model. How to try it for free now.

The second update isn't on YouTube itself but inside Google Search. Ask YouTube lets users surface relevant YouTube videos directly within search results when asking complex questions. Think tutorial-style queries — how to fix something, how to learn something — where a video would actually be more useful than a text answer. It's still in testing but expected to roll out across the US this summer.

Apple Intelligence is coming to the company's industry-leading accessibility tools, including upgraded vision, captioning, and mobility features now enhanced with machine learning.

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which falls on May 21, the tech giant announced a suite of new AI-powered capabilities for the Apple ecosystem, covering its most popular accessibility offerings like VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Reader.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft Teams won’t put everyone in a virtual room anymore — no more 'Together'-ness

"Apple’s approach to accessibility is unlike any other. Now, with Apple Intelligence, we are bringing powerful new capabilities into our accessibility features while maintaining our foundational commitment to privacy by design," said CEO Tim Cook.

Upgraded access tools

Many of the new upgrades come to Apple's vision and voice control tools, designed for users who are blind or have low vision and those with various ranges of mobility.

With Image Explorer, part of Apple's gesture-based screen reader known as VoiceOver, users can get more detailed descriptions of device displays and content. VoiceOver's Live Recognition feature can be activated by the iPhone Action button and respond to detailed follow-up questions.

Credit: Apple

Instead of relying on memorizing specific commands or locations on a screen, iPhone and iPad users will be able to use natural language commands to navigate their devices using Voice Control and on-device tools like Magnifier. That means a user can simply ask their device to "tap the orange folder" or "zoom in on that word," and the device will respond — Apple calls it the power to just "say what you see."

New way to caption content

Apple's AI can also automatically generate on-device subtitles for uncaptioned video, including content taken on-device by Apple users, video sent to users without captions, and even streamed video.

The company's Accessibility Reader tool is getting an upgrade that will make it possible to navigate complicated text, like scientific studies with columns, images, and tables, provide more on-demand summaries, and translate languages without changing custom formatting.

Apple Vision Pro for power wheelchair users

Last, but certainly not least, Apple is adding a feature to Apple Vision Pro that will allow power wheelchair users to navigate their mobility devices using just the virtual reality headset.

The company explained that the feature leverages the device's eye-tracking — technology already used to power alternative drive controls, device navigation, and communication tools for people with various disabilities — but requires less frequent calibration than typical drive control devices. Apple still recommends users only use Apple Vision Pro headsets in controlled environments without potential obstacles or inclement weather, however.

Credit: Apple

Additionally, Apple is making it easier to pair and hand off Made for iPhone hearing aids when switching devices, and add in human ASL interpreters to ongoing FaceTime calls. Apple tvOS is getting larger text support for people with low vision, and Name Recognition is expanding to 50 languages.

Apple said the upgraded tools and features will roll out later this year. The company also said it was expanding its collaborative Hikawa Grip & Stand line, a third-party accessibility accessory designed by artist Bailey Hikawa and released for a limited time last year.

Google wants to be your one and only workspace. Gmail and Drive can replace Outlook, Word, and Excel. Chat could replace Slack. But can the new Google Pics mean trouble for Canva?

At Google I/O, AI was front and center, and the basis for new features coming to Google Workspace. One of the new programs coming to Workspace is Google Pics, a platform for editing existing photos, creating photos from scratch, and designing flyers, graphics, and more. All of that sounds a lot like Canva, an online graphic design tool with free and paid tiers that lets you edit photos and make graphics.

Suz Chambers, Director of Google Creative Labs, demoed Google Pics live on stage at Google I/O. Credit: Google / Mashable

Google Pics is built off of Google's existing AI image creation platform Nano Banana. At Google I/O, Suz Chambers, Director of Google Creative Lab, demoed Google Pics, cropping an existing photo, editing out an unwanted object, and adding text to the picture to create a graphic. Tasks that, for the record, could also be completed within Canva.

Will Google Pics be an enticing switch for Canva users? Well, that's still to be seen, as the program is in the testing phase with plans to launch this summer for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Meanwhile, Canva is free and available to all.

If you suffer from the debilitating condition known as Ijustcantdecide, as I do, sometimes you need someone to do the digging for you and spit out a few curated suggestions for a good movie to watch. Paramount+ is not lacking for good movies, new and old, and this lineup for the work week for U.S. subscribers hits the nail right on the head.

Most of us rely on the convenience of Android Auto to handle music in our cars, and given how streaming is so dominant at home, it's natural to default to apps like Spotify or YouTube Music on the road too. However, streaming is not the best fit for driving—playing music stored on your phone offers a far better experience.

Google offered plenty of in-the-weeds AI agent announcements at Google I/O on Tuesday. But here's one agentic feature tailored to the average user: a Daily Brief.

The opt-in service, available from today for Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers in the U.S., sorts your day out from multiple sources, including your email and calendar. It then summarizes what you've got coming up in a way that Google hopes is more useful than a simple to-do list.

Looking for more Google I/O announcements? Follow the Mashable Google I/O live blog to see all of the latest news on Gemini, Chrome, and Android.

The Daily Brief opens with a "top of mind" section, based on what Google's Gemini AI decides should be your most urgent focus.

"Coordinate your high-stakes Sunday morning," began the example shown by Google Labs and Gemini VP Josh Woodward, noting that his family would have a lot of travel that day.

SEE ALSO: YouTube: 2 new announcements from Google I/O

If any of that sounds familiar, it's because Daily Brief was based on a Google Labs feature called CC, which was so popular it still has a waitlist. CC emails included a "top of mind" and an "FYI" section, followed by a calendar summary of the day.

"Daily Brief gives you a seamless, intuitive entry point into the world of AI agents," Woodward wrote in a blog post.

Whether the promise of Daily Brief emails is enough for average users to sign up for Plus, Pro, and Ultra accounts — $8 per month, $20 per month, and $100-$200 per month, respectively — remains to be seen. But here, at least, is a concrete example of how agents can make a busy user's life easier.

Word of the day: Tokenmaxxing. That's how Google CEO Sundar Pichai introduced this year's Google I/O conference, a reference to the sheer mass of AI processing (we're talking quadrillions, folks) happening around the world.

It's a fact: Google has made a full pivot to AI. And depending on which of its dozens of products you use the most, it may or may not be taking over your life, too. But among a plethora of AI model updates and new, multimodal ways to generate synthetic videos announced today, Google unveiled only a few new upgrades for the YouTube lovers, the world's most-watched video platform.

Looking for more Google I/O announcements? Follow the Mashable Google I/O live blog to see all of the latest news on Gemini, Chrome, and Android.

YouTube Shorts get Gemini Omni

Google unveiled its new AI world model, Gemini Omni, early on in the event, explaining that its new two-directional multimodal capabilities make it capable of "creating anything from any output."

Omni will now be available in YouTube Shorts Remix, a platform creation tool that generates videos from existing content online. With Omni, users can remix their shorts with more advanced AI prompts. The company noted that Shorts made with Omni will automatically sport an AI-generated content label and related metadata, with links back to the original content.

In addition, YouTube is expanding its likeness detection tool, which "helps creators find content on YouTube where their face appears to be altered or generated by AI," to all creators 18 years or older.

Ask YouTube: New way to search

Google's second YouTube-related update isn't on the platform at all, but a new integrated, conversational way to search Google and YouTube at once. With Ask YouTube, Googlers will see relevant YouTube videos directly inside Google Search results.

Basically, when searching for specific or complex questions — like how to teach your child how to ride a bike, for example — users can watch tutorials or related videos right from the search page, and navigate through a tailored, interactive response generated by Google's AI Mode. Google said it "entirely reimagines" the search experience.

The feature is still being tested, but will roll out broadly across the U.S. this summer.

Hybrid SUVs may dominate the conversation around fuel savings, but they’re no longer the only smart option for budget-conscious buyers. Some modern gas-powered crossovers have become so efficient that they deliver fuel economy figures surprisingly close to hybrids, all while avoiding the higher upfront costs and added complexity that come with electrification. For buyers who want low running costs without stretching their budget, this compact Japanese SUV makes a seriously compelling case.

I'm lucky enough to have a handful of hobbies that all seem to leave broken gear in their wake. I'm a musician, a video gamer, a pinball enthusiast, and a homeowner. I deal with bad cables, loose wires, scratchy jacks, questionable connections, old electronics, and gear that looks dead long before it really is.

Google kicks off developer conference season with Google I/O 2026 on Tuesday, May 19. You can watch the keynote livestream starting at 10:00 a.m. PT or tune into the Mashable and CNET live viewing party on YouTube. Once again, Mashable tech reporters be providing real-time updates on all of the Google I/O news and announcements coming out of Mountain View, California.

In years gone by, you could expect the latest Android updates to take center stage at Google I/O. But this year, we're expecting Google artificial intelligence to be the headlining act, as Gemini gets integrated across the entire Google ecosystem of products. We've already covered what we expect from Google I/O 2026, but to recap, we'll be watching for a new frontier Gemini model, as well as updates to other AI products such as Nano Banana, Veo, Gemma, and Lyria. Google will likely unveil the latest updates to Chrome, Android, Google Search, and Workspace apps like Gemini, Sheets, and Docs.

Finally, we're hoping to get our best look yet at the upcoming Android XR glasses, which Google will be releasing at some point this year. You'll find all of the latest Google I/O news right here on this page, so keep checking back.

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OpenClaw started a mini-revolution in the AI world by showing what was possible with AI agents, and at Google I/O 2026, the company finally unveiled its own AI agent.

At its annual developers conference, Google introduced Gemini Spark, a personal AI agent that can draw on users' personal files while leveraging Gemini intelligence.

During the keynote address, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said a beta of Gemini Spark would soon be available to Google AI Ultra subscribers, the company's premium AI subscription plan. In addition, Pichai said that Spark will run on the newly announced Gemini 3.5 Flash model.

While OpenClaw has become hugely popular in the AI and early-adopter communities, Google has a massive reach. Billions of people use Google products, and the company says its Gemini app has 900 million monthly active users. So, Gemini Spark could bring agentic AI into the mainstream for the first time.

Here's why Gemini Spark may have an edge over tools like OpenClaw.

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Gemini Spark is a cloud-based AI agent Credit: Google

Famously, OpenClaw runs on a local device such as a Mac Mini. Shortly after the tool became a viral hit (first under the name Clawdbot, then Moltbot), Mac Minis quickly sold out at Amazon and other retailers. However, Gemini Spark is a fully cloud-based AI agent. That makes it far more beginner-friendly, as there's no hardware or complicated installation process to worry about. And when you close your laptop, Spark keeps working.

Gemini Spark will be able to run 24/7 in the background, with no additional devices required.

Gemini Spark will have better access to your data

Second, if you're already a Google user, then Gemini Spark will have native access to your Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive. So, if you ask Gemini Spark to plan an event, it can pull in contacts from Gmail, artwork from Google Drive, and a schedule from Google Docs. It will also be built into Google Chrome and works on desktop, Android, and iOS devices.

Yes, all of this can be accomplished if you grant OpenClaw access to all of these tools, but Gemini Spark will make this process instantaneous.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O: Gmail is getting an AI voice tool that lets you talk to your inbox Cybersecurity peace of mind

OpenClaw has a DIY ethos, and, because it has such a high level of control over your hardware, it can be a big cybersecurity challenge. Some of those problems have been addressed now that OpenClaw is a part of Anthropic, of course. Still, billions of people are already familiar with Google and trust it with their emails, private documents, and photos.

Presumably, Spark will be protected with the full might of Google's cybersecurity.

In addition, Google announced a new way of stopping AI agents like Spark from overspending your money. Google will be introducing something called Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). Google says this protocol stops agents from going rogue and making purchases you didn’t intend. Users will be able to place strict limits on how much Spark can spend, what it can purchase, and which merchants it can use.

Google is introducing Gemini Spark slowly, and a beta will be available soon for AI Ultra subscribers. That lets Google test Spark with Gemini power users before launching it to everyday users.

For all these reasons, Gemini Spark could be the first AI agent used by countless internet users.

We've been waiting awhile for an update on the first smart glasses built for Google's Android XR platform, and at Google I/O 2026, we finally got a first look.

Google and Samsung pulled back the curtain on a new pair of glasses, coming this fall and featuring two styles created in partnership with Warby Parker and Korean luxury eyewear brand Gentle Monster. Google previously confirmed that these Android XR smart glasses would be released in 2026, but Google I/O provided our first good look at the design and feature set.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2026 live updates: See the latest reveals, including Gemini, Android XR, more

Google and Samsung have been working in sync in recent years, and like other Samsung Galaxy products, the glasses will feature heavy integration with Gemini, Google's AI assistant. Google and Samsung previously worked together on the Galaxy XR headset.

Google was careful to call these "audio glasses" to distinguish them from future glasses with built-in displays in the lenses, which were referred to as "display glasses."

Here are the Gentle Monster glasses. Credit: Google/Samsung And here are the Warby Parker ones. Credit: Google/Samsung

"Intelligent eyewear represents a powerful step forward in our shared vision with Samsung to make AI more helpful and accessible in everyday life," said Shahram Izadi, Vice President and GM of Android XR at Google, in a press release. "Combining the best of Google’s AI and the Android ecosystem together with Samsung’s leadership in mobile hardware and Gentle Monster and Warby Parker’s premium design, we are helping users stay connected and fashionable in a more natural, hands-free way."

The glasses can be used for tasks such as hands-free cooking assistance, navigation, and more. In terms of functionality, they seem very similar to Meta's existing smart glasses. You give commands via voice, and they pair with a phone to carry them out.

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The new glasses in action. Credit: Google

Samsung provided the hardware for the upcoming glasses, while Google's AI technology and Android XR platform will power the functionality. In a press release, Samsung said the glasses are "[designed] to work as a companion device to a mobile phone," and that "the new eyewear enables users to access help through voice interaction in a familiar form factor and connect seamlessly to their phones."

Specifics on the release date and price of the new glasses were notably absent from the presentation. In a press release, Samsung said that the "new intelligent eyewear" is scheduled to launch in fall 2026 and that additional details will be released in the coming months.

"This intelligent eyewear marks an important step in Samsung's vision for AI," said Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience at Samsung, in a press release. "With this new AI form factor, we are further expanding the Galaxy device ecosystem, where each device is optimized to deliver unique AI experiences that best fit each form."

Looking for more Google I/O announcements? Follow the Mashable Google I/O live blog to see all of the latest news on Gemini, Chrome, and Android.

When Encanto was released, it was something of a cultural phenomenon. You couldn't escape the song "We Don't Talk About Bruno," and the soundtrack went to the top of the charts. If you loved Encanto, there's another overlooked Lin-Manuel Miranda animated musical on Netflix that's better in many ways.

At Google I/O, three new features are coming to Google Workspace. According to Google, over 900 million people use Gemini, and now that AI is being further integrated into Workspace apps.

At a glance, new features coming to Workplace include Gmail Live, Docs Live, Google Pics, and AI Inbox. Gmail Live and Docs Live bring AI voice transcription to Workplace apps. Google Pics is the latest AI image editing and generation tool built on Google's Nano Banana platform. AI Inbox, which was previously announced, is now expanding its user base and features.

Here's everything you need to know about the new features for Google Workspace announced at Google I/O 2026.

No typing necessary: Start dictating in Docs Live and Google's AI will do the rest. Credit: Google

When you're on the go and don't have a moment to type out or search for what you need, Google's new voice capabilities provide answers faster. These conversational features are coming to Gmail, Docs, and Keep.

Now with Gmail Live, you can ask your most important questions like "What's my flight info?" and get the answer in a moment, rather than sifting through your bursting inbox.

In Docs Live, rather than tediously organizing your thoughts, you can get to a first draft sooner. Just speak to Docs Live, and it will brainstorm, write, outline, and refine what you're trying to say.

With Google Keep, where you can keep all your quick notes, just record your thoughts rather than typing them out. Keep will do the rest of the work, organizing and transcribing them.

All of these features will be available to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Google Pics

Built on Google's Nano Banana model, Google Pics is a new image and creation tool. Not only will it help edit existing photos, but it will also create photos from scratch. Google Pics may even be making a run for Canva's crown, as it designs event flyers, social media content, and digital illustrations.

According to Google, Pics includes:

• Object segmentation: Select and edit specific elements with precision. You can easily move an object, resize it, or transform it entirely — like changing a sweater's color or turning a dog into a cat — all without affecting the rest of the image.

• Text editing and translation: Modify text directly inside a photo or translate it into different languages while maintaining the original design and font style.

• Integrations with Workspace: Pics will also be integrated into Workspace apps so you can easily edit images right where they are, starting with Slides and Drive.

Pics is currently launching with select testers. Later this summer, it will launch to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers and be previewed for Google Workspace business customers.

AI Inbox for Gmail Credit: Google

Earlier this year, Google announced AI inbox, which is now live for AI Ultra subscribers. Now announced at Google I/O, AI Inbox is rolling out to AI Pro and Plus users. Alongside this change come three new features:

• Personalized draft replies: Rather than reminding you to reply to an email, the AI inbox gets a draft ready for you to review and send.

• Instant file access: When reviewing a task, AI Inbox sorts through your Google Drive to find the link you need.

• Streamlined task management: No more making your own to-do list, now your view stays clutter-free, marking individual tasks and dismissing unhelpful suggestions.

Looking for more Google I/O announcements? Follow the Mashable Google I/O live blog to see all of the latest news on Gemini, Chrome, and Android.

Google just unveiled a new family of models for Gemini at its annual Google I/O developers conference: Gemini 3.5.

The first model will be Gemini 3.5 Flash, a new AI model that's available now at no cost to billions of people around the world.

In the keynote address of Google I/O 2026, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Gemini 3.5 flash is launching immediately via the Gemini app and other Google products. Google also announced that a new frontier AI model, Gemini 3.5 Pro, would be released in June.

"We are also excited for 3.5 Pro,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, at a pre-Google I/O media briefing. “We are using it internally. It's showing great improvements. We are still testing and refining it, and it will roll out to everyone next month."

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2026 keynote livestream: Watch live today Introducing Gemini 3.5 Flash from Google

Starting Tuesday, Gemini 3.5 Flash will become the default model for both the Gemini app and AI Mode worldwide. Google leaders said the new model excels at coding, better supports AI agents, and uses tokens more efficiently.

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Gemini 3.5 Flash is the first model in the 3.5 family, and Google says it outperforms Gemini 3.1 Pro on most benchmarks while also delivering much faster performance. In a blog post announcing the new model, Google said Gemini 3.5 Flash is four times faster than other frontier models in output tokens per second (TPS). This AI performance metric measures response speed.

Credit: Google

"[Gemini] 3.5 Flash is especially good when deploying multiple agents simultaneously and completing long-running tasks with massive improvements in coding and tool use," said Koray Kavukcuoglu, CTO of Google DeepMind and Chief AI Architect at Google, at a media briefing. "It can independently execute complex coding pipelines or manage iterative research projects entirely by itself. We have even managed to successfully test it by having our agents build a working operating system entirely from scratch."

Because of its massive customer base and the ubiquity of Google Search, Google has major advantages in the AI arms race. In the past year, Gemini has grown significantly. The Gemini AI chatbot now has 900 million monthly active users, up from 400 million at this time last year, according to Google.

Like other Big Tech companies, Google has invested hugely in AI infrastructure. This year, Pichai said the company's capital expenditures would reach $180 to $190 billion, up from $31 billion in 2022, before the launch of ChatGPT.

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How to try Gemini 3.5 Flash

Gemini 3.5 Flash is generally available starting today.

You can access the model through a variety of Google products, including:

• Gemini app on iOS, Android, and desktop

• Google AI Mode

• Google Antigravity

• The Gemini API in Google AI Studio and Android Studio

• Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform

• Gemini Enterprise

Looking for more Google I/O announcements? Follow the Mashable Google I/O live blog to see all of the latest news on Gemini, Chrome, and Android.