Inaugurated in 2008, Google I/O is a developer conference held annually by Google in Mountain View, California.
Google typically uses the event as its way to introduce new changes to Android, Google-powered hardware, and updates to services like Google Maps.
In 2020, the event has been canceled due to the coronavirus spread.
Google I/O in 2020 was due to take place between May 12th to 14th, and the cancellation came just days after Google scrapped its Cloud Next event in San Francisco in favor of a “digital-first” event.
The company has sent an email to attendees informing them of the cancellation.
Google said that attendees are going to be refunded in full by March 13th, and those who purchased tickets for this 2020 event are automatically granted the permission to attend the 2121 Google I/O 2021 without lottery to get the tickets.
We are supportive of the decision made by organizers to postpone #GDC20. Although we won’t see you in person, our teams have exciting news to share and we hope you will join us for our digital experience to learn more. Sign up for updates at https://t.co/KCkMdoKgDC.
— Google Developers (@googledevs) February 29, 2020
"All guests who have purchased tickets to I/O 2020 will receive a full refund by March 13, 2020. If you don’t see the credit on your statement by then, please reach out to [email protected]. Guests who have registered for I/O 2020 will not need to enter next year’s drawing and will be automatically granted the option of purchasing an I/O 2021 ticket."
The Google I/O conference is the company’s most immersive event with thousands of demonstrations that give developers in its ecosystem a chance to touch, feel and interact with Google’s latest technology in person.
Typically, about 5,000 people attend the yearly event.
To make up for the economic loss of canceling the event, Google pledges $1 million to local Mountain View organizations to support small businesses and increase STEM and computer science opportunities in Mountain View schools.
This marks the first time Google has canceled its flagship developer conference.
The company also confirmed that it has stopped all international employee travel. and is advising its traveling employees to return home.
Google initially restricted travel only in several countries including China, Italy and Iran.
Google’s cancellation of its I/O came after Facebook canceled its F8 developer conference, after the GSMA canceled the 2020 Mobile World Congress and some others, all due to the coronavirus outbreak.