Google I/O 2026: Gemini Moves Into Search, Shopping and Developer Tools

Google used its I/O developer conference on May 19 to put Gemini across Search, shopping, Gmail, Chrome and developer tools, making its annual software showcase a test of whether AI can protect the company’s core advertising business.

The company said AI Mode in Search now has more than 1 billion monthly active users. The Gemini app has more than 900 million. Those figures show Google has distribution that few AI rivals can match. They do not yet show how much revenue the new AI products will produce.

Chief Executive Sundar Pichai told the keynote audience that Google had entered an “agentic Gemini” phase. Google said Gemini 3.5 Flash would be available globally from May 19 and would power the Gemini app, Search AI Mode, Antigravity and the Gemini API. Gemini 3.5 Pro remains in internal use for now and is due next month.

AI Mode Reaches A Billion Users

Liz Reid, who leads Google Search, said AI Mode queries have more than doubled every quarter since launch. Google said AI Mode now has more than 1 billion monthly active users and that its average query is about three times as long as a traditional search.

The search box is changing as well. The new input field can take text, images, video, files and Chrome tabs, with AI suggestions designed to help users ask longer questions. Google said the update starts rolling out from May 19 in countries and languages where AI Mode is available.

Google has not broken out revenue from AI Mode. The longer users stay inside an AI answer, the fewer clicks may flow to traditional blue links. Management has told investors AI Mode will add new ad formats and shopping features, but the company has not given a separate revenue number.

Shopping Moves Into The Google Account

Google also announced Universal Cart, built on what it calls the Universal Commerce Protocol. Users will be able to use one cart across Search, Gemini, YouTube and Gmail, with alerts tied to price changes, inventory and merchant information. Google said the feature will arrive first in Search and the Gemini app this summer, followed later by YouTube and Gmail.

Universal Cart keeps product discovery, price alerts and pre-purchase decisions close to the Google account. Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, Walmart, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce and Stripe are among the companies shown as UCP partners. Merchants may get higher conversion, but they would also become more dependent on Google’s traffic allocation.

Spark Moves Into Gmail And Docs

Gemini Spark sits across Gmail, Docs, Slides and Chrome. Google says it runs in the cloud and can keep working after a computer is closed or a phone is locked. It can summarize meetings, emails and chats, then draft documents or to-do lists.

Google said Spark will ask for confirmation before higher-risk actions such as sending an email or spending money. That limit matters. Once agents enter inboxes, calendars, browsers and payments, they raise questions about privacy, mistakes and who is responsible when an automated task goes wrong.

Spark is opening first to a limited group of testers, then as a beta for US Google AI Ultra subscribers. Google also introduced a new AI Ultra subscription tier at $100 a month, while lowering the previous top Ultra plan from $250 to $200. The package includes higher usage limits, priority Antigravity access and 20TB of cloud storage.

Antigravity Targets Enterprise Developers

Google announced Antigravity 2.0, an Antigravity CLI and SDK, and Managed Agents in the Gemini API. The company said developers can use a single API call to launch an agent that reasons, uses tools and executes code inside an isolated Linux environment.

Those tools are aimed at companies and professional developers. Microsoft has tied Copilot to Office and Azure. OpenAI is pushing ChatGPT further into enterprise and developer workflows. Google is linking its agent layer with Cloud, Workspace, Android Studio and Firebase. Corporate customers will now decide which automated tasks they are willing to hand to those platforms.

Google also announced Gemini Omni, a video model, and new content-authentication features. Videos generated by Omni will carry Google’s SynthID watermark. Google said it will add content credentials verification to the Gemini app and bring the tool to Chrome search in the coming months. OpenAI, Kakao and ElevenLabs will also use SynthID for more AI-generated content.

$190 Billion In Spending Needs A Payoff

Google and Alphabet have increased AI spending over the past year. Executives previously told investors that Alphabet’s capital spending could rise to $190 billion this year. Google’s recent earnings have continued to grow, and its shares rose after last month’s results. I/O puts the return on that spending back in front of investors.

AI Mode has crossed 1 billion monthly active users. Investors will now watch whether those users click new AI ads, buy Ultra subscriptions, or move more shopping and office work into Google products.

The company also showed progress on smart glasses. Google said audio glasses will arrive first this fall, followed by display glasses. Partners include Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Wearables will not change Google’s revenue mix soon, but they give Gemini another place to live outside phones and browsers.

Google has connected Search, shopping, Gmail, Docs, Chrome and developer tools to Gemini. Alphabet’s next quarterly report, merchant feedback after Universal Cart launches this summer, and AI Mode ad fill rates will determine whether this I/O becomes a product event or a revenue event.

Sources: Google Blog, Google Search Blog, Google Gemini App Blog, Google Developers Blog, Google One Blog and Associated Press. User counts, release timing and subscription prices are based on information published by Google and AP on May 19, 2026. Some features vary by country, language and subscription tier.