Google references Android 18 in upcoming Dev Summit agenda

Google has officially mentioned Android 18 for the first time in the agenda for the upcoming Android Dev Summit, scheduled for October 28 and 29 at the Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. The conference, which returns after a four-year hiatus, will feature sessions dedicated to the next generation of the operating system.

A primary focus for Android 18 appears to be advanced graphical capabilities. Specifically, Google plans to demonstrate how developers can use Jetpack Compose to implement features such as mesh gradients and progressive blurs. The company aims to provide these sophisticated visual effects without compromising battery life, frame rates, or overall system smoothness.

The summit will be organized into four main tracks: AI experiences, Android XR (Extended Reality), app foundations, and tools and performance. Significant emphasis will be placed on artificial intelligence, including the integration of Gemini, Google Search, and the Android Intelligence system, which aims to use AI agents to coordinate tasks across different applications.