I’m hopeful we will see more about Googlebook at Google I/O 2026 today

Google I/O 2026 officially kicks off today at 1PM EDT with the main keynote. While we are fully expecting heavy hitters like new Gemini features, Android 17 updates, and possibly some new glimpses at Android XR, there is one massive question on our minds around here: will Google give us some additional details on the Googlebook?

Since The Android Show bombshell last week, we’ve all been digesting a mountain of news, exclusive interviews, and leaks about this new platform (which you can browse right here on our dedicated Googlebook section). Before we settle in for the keynote, here is a quick summary of everything we already know about Google’s next-generation laptops.

Googlebook recap

• The OS and Desktop: Running on the Android tech stack, Googlebook will feature a true, functional desktop environment complete with app icons, folders, and Gemini-powered custom widgets. (Though we still technically don’t know the official name of the operating system).
• Native, Premium Apps: Googlebooks will run native, desktop-class Android apps (not emulated apps we have on Chromebooks) from traditional developers with incredible performance, plus exclusive AI-first apps at launch.
• The Hardware Pipeline: The first wave arrives this fall from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, and we know they will feature the iconic Glow Bar. We also have confirmation that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors will be powering at least one of these premium devices right out of the gate alongside MediaTek and Intel.
• AI at the Core: Built specifically for Gemini Intelligence, the platform features tools like the new Magic Pointer, allowing you to seamlessly interact with elements on your screen without typing out complex text prompts.
• Deep Phone Integration: Googlebook is being positioned as the ultimate companion device. It will feature deep integration not just for Android phones, but for iPhones as well via a native, built-in Link to iOS app.
• Chromebooks Are Safe: Google has explicitly confirmed that standard Chromebooks are not dead, the 10-year support promise remains rock solid, and there will be transition paths for eligible current devices.

What we hope to see at Google I/O today

So, what is left for the developer conference? While the actual hardware launch is still months away, Google I/O is the perfect stage to dive a bit deeper into the software.

I am cautiously hopeful that Google will use the 1PM EDT keynote or the subsequent developer sessions to unveil the official name of the operating system: a long shot, but you never know! It would also be the perfect venue to show off a bit of the new desktop UI in action, or reveal some of the major developer partnerships that Google VP John Maletis teased in our recent interview.

We will be tuning in live and to witness all the major announcements as they happen, so grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let’s see what Google has in store for us today.