Google I/O 2026: Gemini 3.5, Spark Agent, Omni Video AI, and Everything Else Announced

Utshab Biswas
1 day ago
7 min read

Google used its biggest developer event of the year to go all-in on AI unveiling new Gemini models, a background task agent, cinematic video generation, and a complete app redesign. Here is everything that matters.

The Google I/O 2026 developer event kicked off on May 19, 2026, with an opening keynote speech dominated by discussions around AI. The tech giant dedicated most of two hours to discussing their AI platform, Gemini, which is progressing from being a chatbot to much bigger things.

There were multiple updates on AI models, a completely revamped application, an AI agent that operates when your smartphone's screen is switched off, and a new video generation model that creates high-quality cinematic videos. It was a huge day. Let's take a closer look.

Gemini 3.5 - Google's Newest AI Model Family

According to Google, Gemini 3.5 is the most recent version of their AI models. Google claims that their latest models are made for greater intelligence and practical task accomplishment, which implies that they are intelligent enough to accomplish tasks.

Gemini 3.5 Flash - Fast, Capable, and Live Now

Gemini 3.5 Flash is the first member of this family. Google intends to market it as the model that one should use for coding, automation, and agent work. It is quick, it is responsive, and it is currently live.

Available now: Gemini 3.5 Flash is rolling out globally through the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search. It also powers Gemini Spark and other new I/O features announced this week.

The Gemini 3.5 Flash is now the default engine for the Gemini application. Therefore, if you open Gemini right now, then you are using the latest model already. This isn’t an early access program or anything like that; it’s simply there.

Gemini 3.5 Pro - More Power, Coming Soon

Google also announced the release of an even more advanced model, Gemini 3.5 Pro. This is the larger and more powerful model within the line-up. Currently, it is undergoing internal testing and will be released next month.

Google hasn’t revealed many details about Pro yet, but considering the pattern set by the previous models of Gemini through their Flash-to-Pro transition, one can assume that it will perform much better at long-range reasoning and comprehension of documents.

Gemini Omni - AI-Powered Video Generation

One of the most impressive introductions made during I/O 2026 was Gemini Omni. It is a novel AI model created specifically for producing video content. Google is claiming that the quality of its videos will be impressive.

Gemini Omni can transform text input, still images, and video snippets into a high-quality cinematic video output. The entire process occurs within the Gemini platform. The user inputs their prompt and supplies materials, and the model generates a video.

The difference between the Omni tool and other AI video models lies in the emphasis placed by Google on logic and narration. According to the firm, the AI video generator uses not only the laws of physics but also Gemini's knowledge about history, science, and culture to create narratively coherent video content.

"Google wants Omni-generated videos to feel story-driven, not just visually realistic and that is an unusually ambitious bar for a generative AI tool."

Where You Can Use Gemini Omni Flash

The first model in the Omni lineup, called Gemini Omni Flash, is rolling out globally starting today. It is available through the Gemini app and Google Flow for subscribers on Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra plans.

Free on YouTube: Gemini Omni Flash will also come to YouTube Shorts and the YouTube Create app at no extra cost, starting this week.

This is a wise decision on the part of Google. By launching Omni through YouTube, which already has millions of users creating short videos, Google can immediately capture a huge user base that is already interested in using video creation software.

Gemini Spark - The AI Agent That Works While You Sleep

The most important thing announced at Google I/O 2026 was the launch of Gemini Spark. This is the latest cloud-based AI agent from Google. However, this time, the use of the technology is quite different from before.

Before, the way Gemini functioned was like an assistant where one had to ask something, and then get an answer. However, with Spark, this process is reversed. Instead of responding to questions, the agent will run constantly in the background on behalf of the user. Google claims that Spark runs without the presence of the user; it can continue its functions even when the phone is locked or the laptop is shut down.

What Gemini Spark Can Actually Do

The examples provided by Google are realistic and relatable. Think about asking Spark to go through your credit card statement each month to find those subscriptions that you have forgotten about. Or instructing it to monitor your child’s school email account and notify you weekly about any important dates and deadlines. Or making it collect fragmented meeting notes from various emails and conversations into one Google document. These are things that people require but just did not know how to do automatically before.

Antigravity - The Engine Behind Spark

The Spark technology is driven by Gemini 3.5 and operates on the Antigravity platform developed by Google. It is an agent-first development framework provided by Google to allow developers to create, manage, and deploy AI agents which can operate across Google products and services.

Antigravity is the layer that acts as the infrastructure for AI agents. Spark is the consumer-facing product built on the same layer, while developers have the flexibility to create their own agents.

MCP Integrations and What's Coming Next

It was also stated by Google that Spark would make connections with third-party services via MCP integrations. Some of the initial partners are Canva, OpenTable, and Instacart, which means Spark would be capable of booking reservations at restaurants or managing a design project.

There were also hints of future capabilities that included messaging and emailing Spark directly, setting up custom sub-agents for recurring actions, and having Spark control browsers independently. While there is no set release date for any of them, these examples give an idea about what's in store for Spark.

Android Halo - See What Your AI Is Doing in Real Time

One obvious concern regarding the use of an AI background helper would be that of visibility. After all, how will you know what Spark is up to when your screen is turned off and it is acting for you?

To tackle this problem, Google introduced Android Halo. This is an entirely new feature that sits at the top of your phone screen and provides you with a live feed of your agent's actions. Whether Spark is performing any task, sending out messages, or going into live mode, you will see everything without having to stop what you are doing on your phone. The best thing about Android Halo is that it serves merely as a status update.

Launch timeline: Android Halo will launch later this year. It builds on features introduced at The Android Show 2026, where Google previewed Gemini Intelligence as part of Android 17.

It’s one of those features that seems like such a little thing but may end up being vital when you’re constantly using Spark. Just knowing that your agent is busy and seeing what it’s up to is an absolute necessity when it comes to trusting agentic AI.

Gemini App Updates - A Redesign, Daily Briefs, and Better Voice

Beyond the new models and agents, Google also announced a substantial set of updates to the Gemini app itself. These changes affect the look, the feel, and the core experience of using Gemini day-to-day.

Daily Brief - Your Personalised Morning Rundown

Daily Brief is a new tool that will enable you to have an active morning brief in the Gemini app. The platform will connect to your Gmail and Google Calendar accounts, get relevant information, and provide it in a consolidated brief.

The process does not simply involve sending all your unread emails to you. Google claims that Daily Brief can prioritize your important emails, remind you about your appointments, generate reminders, and even offer suggestions about how to proceed. The idea behind Daily Brief is to help you have an overview of your day ahead of time.

This service is quite similar to Samsung's "Now Brief" tool for Galaxy users. Now Brief generates personalized briefs for its users during the day. However, since Daily Brief works with Google Workspace, it gets access to more information.

Neural Expressive - A Complete App Redesign

A complete visual redesign of the Gemini app has been done by Google. This new design approach is known as "Neural Expressive" and represents an entirely new direction in comparison to the current user interface.

Fluid motion graphics, vibrant colors, updated typography, and haptic feedback have all been introduced in the latest version. The idea behind the new design approach is that the interaction with AI should be dynamic rather than text-based.

Gemini Live - Smarter Voice Interaction

Gemini Live has been incorporated straight into the overall Gemini experience itself. It was previously like shifting from one mode to another when going from typing to voice. But now, it is all smooth – typing followed by speaking without any disruption in the ongoing conversation itself.

The microphone interface has been revamped as well. There won’t be any interference from Gemini if you happen to take a pause while speaking. Google plans on introducing support for regional accents as well so that you get voices similar to yours.

Richer, More Visual Responses

Gemini is improving its capabilities to present information visually. Rather than relying on lengthy blocks of text, one can now incorporate interactive timelines, video snippets, graphics, and visual representations in their responses. This is especially useful when dealing with complicated concepts.

Gemini Spark Arrives on macOS This Summer

Mac users were also not left behind. The Gemini desktop application for Mac is about to receive a significant upgrade in the summer, which includes the launch of Gemini Spark. On desktops, Spark will be able to work with local files as well as automate tasks right from your computer, rather than from the cloud.

The macOS application will also come with voice-to-text capabilities that can comprehend the context of whatever is on your screen. This system has been developed in such a way that it ignores fillers and natural pauses, which makes dictating notes and drafts much easier.

The Google I/O 2026 wasn't about small updates. Instead, it was about a paradigm shift of what AI should be doing. All these announcements together paint a picture of an AI that doesn't have to be started, used, and closed; an AI that runs in the background, manages things, organizes information, and acts on your behalf.

This is what Gemini Spark does. Gemini Omni represents Google's plans for creativity tools. Gemini 3.5 adds power to the entire ecosystem. And the new look of the apps, Daily Brief, and Halo add usability and transparency.

Whether it all works as well in reality as it does in the keynote demo remains to be seen. But one thing is sure: Google knows where it's going, and these announcements are too ambitious for us to assume that the company won't be able to deliver.

Regardless of who you are developer, creator, regular user, or business customer Google just made its biggest bet on the agentic AI era. We'll see how it plays out.