When Google opens its doors tomorrow for its annual developer conference, I/O, it will do so as a clear third place in the foundation model race. A year ago, things looked very different: Google was still riding high from the launch of Gemini 2.5 Pro that March, and distinguishing among the top-tier large language models felt like splitting hairs.

But now, its coding tools are outgunned by Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex. Those systems are so superior that Google has reportedly had to allow some engineers at DeepMind to use Claude for their work—to avoid falling further behind. This year, I’m eager to see if they can claw back into the race.

I’ll be paying particular attention to any coding comeback efforts and new developments in AI for science. Coding might be Google’s weakness, but science is its strength, with tools like the AI co-scientist and AlphaEvolve. However, there may also be areas where Google has fallen behind, such as health AI.

While Googlers gather in Mountain View, roughly 30 miles north, the drama of Elon Musk v. Sam Altman trial will continue. Google fans should watch closely for any controversial deals or discussions about their future with the Department of Defense.