Google’s Android Update Sneaks In Before Another AI-Focused I/O

Material Three Expressive arrives as AI threatens to overshadow Android—again

Google just dropped its biggest Android visual overhaul in years, Material Three Expressive, via a pre-show YouTube event ahead of its developer conference. The timing isn’t accidental. For the past two years, Android has played second fiddle to AI at Google I/O, and 2024 looks no different. CEO Sundar Pichai’s 2023 keynote mentioned Android barely a handful of times, with Gemini and other AI tools dominating the spotlight. This year, Google at least gave Android its moment—before the AI avalanche begins.

“Android’s evolution isn’t slowing down, but the narrative has shifted. AI is the headliner now,” says a Google insider familiar with the event’s planning.

Behind the scenes, Google has quietly fixed one of Android’s longest-standing headaches: slow adoption. By pushing updates through Google Play and app updates instead of monolithic OS releases, more users now get features faster. Android 16 follows a refined schedule—a major update in Q2, a minor one in Q4—aimed at broader device compatibility. It’s a pragmatic shift, acknowledging the messy reality of Android’s ecosystem.

AI Everywhere, But Android Hangs On

Google’s AI blitz isn’t just about keynotes. Gemini-powered features have infiltrated Chrome, Gmail, Meet, and even teased XR (think glasses) updates. The risk? Repetition. Attendees and viewers may groan if this year’s presentation recycles last year’s promises with marginal improvements. Yet Google’s pre-I/O Android reveal suggests it’s aware of the fatigue—and that Android, even as a supporting act, still matters.

For now, Material Three Expressive offers a tangible change: bolder colors, dynamic animations, and a more opinionated design language. It’s a visual handshake between Android and Google’s AI future—one that ensures the OS isn’t forgotten, even as Gemini takes center stage.