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I/O, here we come! CEO Pichai confirms May 17-19 as dates for Google event

Christian de Looper
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Sundar Pichai stands in front of a Google logo at Google I/O 2021.
This story is part of our complete Google I/O coverage

Android Wear Google I/O
Every year, Google holds a conference for its developers, known as Google I/O. Its primary focus is to teach developers how to best use the company’s many tools and software packages, but it’s the keynote speech that usually draws fans’ attention. It’s where we get a glimpse at what’s next for Android, Chrome, and many other Google platforms — and if we’re really lucky, a look at amazing future projects.

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What will be revealed at Google I/O 2017? Here’s everything we think we know about the big event.

Google I/O is set for May 17-19

Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai has officially confirmed the dates for Google I/O — May 17-19. Not only that, but Pichai also confirmed that the event would take place at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, which is the same venue Google used for I/O 2016. It has space for a hefty 7,000 attendees.

Like previous years, Google set up a somewhat complex puzzle for developers to figure out the dates and location for the event. Only two days before the official announcement, the Google Developers Twitter account tweeted out a mysterious message that led to the discovery of what turned out to be the dates and location for Google I/O 2017. With the accompanying hashtag #SaveTheDate, the cryptic message said: “Around the world, from here to there, to the most clever minds, the secret will share,” leading inquiring puzzle-solvers to this website.

This kind of quiz isn’t uncharacteristic for Google — the company often sends out programming challenges and quizzes to give developers a chance to win tickets to Google I/O and other prizes. The road to revealing the dates was as complex and geeky as you’d expect, but a group of clever folks on the Discord website managed to solve the puzzle. Armed with coordinates taken from mysterious websites, as well as clues from unlisted YouTube videos, they laid out all the data out on a chess board ready for some final calculations, and the secret was eventually discovered.

It makes sense for Google to begin preparing for the May event now — Google I/O 2016 was officially announced in January 2016, with more details following in March. We’ll provide updates here with official news and rumors, so check back often.

Article originally published on 01-24-2017 by Christian de Looper. Updated on 01-26-2017 by Christian de Looper: Added official confirmation of Google I/O dates and location from Sundar Pichai.

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Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper
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Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
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