MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — In a marked departure from previous years, Google I/O 2024 had the atmosphere of a full-fledged developer conference. It spanned two days and culminated in an exclusive third day dedicated to an internal “Demo Slam” event for Google employees. This unique day saw the announcement of an internal Gemini hackathon to foster AI innovation within the company.

A Three-Day Developer Extravaganza

The evolution of Google I/O over the past few years has been notable. The event was canceled in 2020, and the 2021 edition was a modest affair, streamed to a limited live audience in Mountain View. In 2022 and 2023, attendees were invited for just one day. This year, however, marked a significant shift. After the keynote, Google hosted live sessions for in-person attendees and organized after-hour social events, creating a vibrant atmosphere of collaboration and learning.

Exclusive Programming for Googlers

While the pre-recorded live sessions released on YouTube gave the impression of a three-day event, there was another day of programming exclusively for Googlers at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. CEO Sundar Pichai, who hosted the event, revealed in an internal email that thousands of Googlers attended, with many more streaming it internally. Pichai shared images on LinkedIn, capturing the excitement and engagement of the event.

Android engineering VP Dave Burke and teams from Google DeepMind, Search, and Labs demonstrated the innovations announced earlier in the week. Project Astra, a conference highlight, was showcased again, with some announcements made available to employees for internal testing.

Announcing the Gemini Hackathon

The highlight of the Demo Slam was Pichai’s announcement of an internal hackathon encouraging Google employees to experiment with Gemini, Google’s AI project. This initiative aims to foster AI experimentation and could potentially lead to new product developments. Googlers are encouraged to form teams and collaborate, with Google executives selecting finalists to present at a company-wide meeting. The hackathon also offers a monetary prize for the winning teams.

Pichai emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We want to create more opportunities for us to come together as a company in the spirit of innovation and problem-solving, focused on our biggest opportunities like AI.”

A Spirit of Innovation

The Gemini hackathon is designed to ignite a spirit of innovation and problem-solving among Google’s workforce. By encouraging employees to collaborate and experiment, Google aims to leverage its internal talent to push the boundaries of AI technology. This hackathon reflects Google’s broader strategy to integrate AI into its products and services, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of technological innovation.

As Pichai noted, “Our goal is to harness the collective creativity and expertise of our employees to drive the next wave of AI advancements. The Gemini hackathon is a key step in that direction, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.”

Google I/O 2024 has set a new standard for developer conferences, blending public engagement with exclusive internal initiatives. The introduction of the Gemini hackathon underscores Google’s commitment to AI and its belief in the power of its employees to shape the future of technology. As the hackathon progresses, the tech world will be watching to see what groundbreaking innovations emerge from this exciting initiative.