Daily Authority: 🍿 What to expect from Google I/O 2023

👋 Good morning! I’m still tuckered out from MWC, but it was good to see colleagues and industry peers. We’ve got plenty to cover in today’s Daily Authority though, so let’s get on with it!

Google I/O 2023 is confirmed

Google confirmed that its annual I/O developer conference will indeed be taking place from May 10, 2023. It’s not a surprise to hear that the conference is happening in May, as it’s been an annual occurrence for years now.

All the details and what to expect

• Google noted that in-person attendance will be “limited,” so you might have to register now to avoid disappointment.
• Nevertheless, everyone else can obviously stream the event and keynote address via YouTube.
• Past events give us an idea of what to expect.
• We’re guessing that the Pixel 7a reveal and Android 14 betas will be a lock.
• After all, the Pixel 6a debuted at I/O 2022, while Android betas have been announced at the event for a few years running.
• Google previously confirmed that the Pixel Tablet was coming in 2023, so expect this as well.
• We also got a glimpse at the Pixel 7 series last year, so maybe we’ll get a brief look at the Pixel 8?
• Rumors and leaks regarding a Pixel Fold have also gained steam. Does that mean we’ll see it at I/O 2023? We can only hope.
• Google also uses the occasion to announce new features for services like Maps, Translate, Search, and more.
• So additions to its services are also effectively guaranteed on the day.

Will Bard launch on the day?

• One major question is whether Google’s new Bard AI bot will be launched or make an appearance at all.
• Google’s ChatGPT rival is already being used by “trusted testers.”
• The firm also said at Bard’s February unveiling that it intended to launch a public version in the coming weeks.
• However, Bard gained some negative press after its unveiling, as it turned out the bot actually gave an incorrect answer to a query.
• Shares in Google parent company Alphabet reportedly tanked by 8% at the time.
• This saga as well as recent layoffs have apparently resulted in some discontent among employees.
• You have to think Google might opt for an easier or more choreographed Bard demonstration if it really wants to show off the tech.
• After all, another flub might lead to share prices dropping in an even bigger way.
• Then again, Google could also lean heavily on it being a “beta” or “preview” as a way to excuse any major errors.
• Either way, the company seems to be feeling the pressure thanks to ChatGPT and Bing Chat.
• So it needs to carefully balance a desire to launch a timely response with the need for a polished product.

Roundup

📫 Facebook will finally let you access your inbox without the Messenger app: But it’s not simply just a case of listening to consumers after nine years (Android Authority).

👂 Pixel Buds Pro now have spatial audio with head-tracking support (Android Authority).

📱 This phone received seven straight years of updates, besting Samsung (Android Authority).

💾 Why the floppy disk just won’t die: A fascinating dive into the various fields that still require them (Wired).

🍑 Cheeky! This phone has a ‘plump butt’ beauty filter: I wasn’t afraid to try this mode and be the butt of jokes (Android Authority).

▶️ YouTube is killing the overlay ad format: That is, the ad that covers the bottom of a video on desktop. Does that mean more pre-roll video ads, then? (Ars Technica).

🤳 Vivo X90 Pro review: Fantastic low-light capabilities and premium extras, but polish and pricing are two key stumbling blocks (Android Authority).

🎮 Peridot, the Tamagotchi-like game from Pokemon Go dev Niantic, will launch in May (Eurogamer).

🔈 Say ‘goodbye’ to the Sonos One and ‘hello’ to a new Sonos Era (Android Authority).

🍏 Apple has announced a yellow colorway for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus: It wouldn’t be the first yellow phone I see in 2023, as my Poco X5 Pro review can attest (Apple Newsroom).

Wednesday Weirdness

Many sushi eateries have a conveyor belt system in place, allowing you to simply grab a plate of sushi as it goes past you. Now, all 63 branches of a Tokyo-based restaurant chain have announced that they will stop this revolving system.

According to SoraNews24, the Choshimaru restaurant chain has decided to switch to a more conventional ordering system in the wake of a spate of sushi terror incidents. Yep, the move comes after several viral videos showed people handling the food and other items in disgusting ways (e.g. putting a cigarette butt in a container for pickled ginger). This is why we can’t have nice things.

Have a great day, and maki the most of it!
Hadlee Simons, Editor