Google I/O 2026: AI coding crisis, science tools, and CEO drama
Google's annual developer conference I/O begins tomorrow in Mountain View, California. The company enters as a clear third place in the foundation model race, having fallen behind Anthropic and OpenAI in coding capabilities. Google has reportedly allowed some DeepMind engineers to use Claude for their work. A new AI coding team has been formed at DeepMind, with Nobel laureate John Jumper contributing. An update to the Antigravity coding platform is expected. In science, Google DeepMind remains a leader, having released tools like the AI co-scientist and AlphaEvolve. The company will make its AI-powered Health Coach publicly available, though it focuses on fitness and diet rather than medical concerns. Meanwhile, the Elon Musk v. Sam Altman trial concludes in Oakland. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has avoided drama, but Google faces internal controversy over a Department of Defense deal, protested by 600 employees. The company signed the deal the next day.
Key facts
- Google I/O 2026 starts tomorrow in Mountain View, California.
- Google is third in the foundation model race behind Anthropic and OpenAI.
- Some DeepMind engineers use Claude for coding due to Google's inferior tools.
- A new AI coding team at DeepMind includes Nobel laureate John Jumper.
- An update to the Antigravity coding platform may be announced.
- Google released AI co-scientist and AlphaEvolve last year.
- Google's AI Health Coach launches tomorrow, focusing on fitness and diet.
- Elon Musk v. Sam Altman trial wraps up in Oakland.
- 600 DeepMind employees protested a DoD deal; Google signed it anyway.
Entities
Institutions
- DeepMind
- Anthropic
- OpenAI
- US Department of Defense
- Los Angeles Times
- The Information
- Stanford University
- Nature
Locations
- Mountain View
- California
- United States
- Oakland