Google Cancels In-Person I/O Developer Conference Over Coronavirus Fears
Google cancels the physical Google I/O event and halts international employee travel as a precaution against the spreading coronavirus. The company plans to refund ticket holders and explore alternative ways to connect with its developer community.
Google cancels the physical Google I/O developer conference at the Shoreline Amphitheatre due to concerns around the coronavirus. The company confirms that it refunds all attendees who purchased tickets for the event. In addition to cancelling this major gathering, Google halts all international employee travel and advises currently traveling staff members to return home.
This annual conference serves as Google's most immersive event, typically drawing over 7,000 global developers who interact directly with the company's latest technology. The gathering provides a rare opportunity for developers to test new features for Android, Google Photos, and YouTube while mingling with executives like Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Google states that it explores other ways to evolve the event and maintain its connection with the developer community in the coming weeks.
Google joins a growing list of tech companies that alter their major schedules as COVID-19 continues to spread globally. Facebook recently cancels its annual F8 software developer conference, and Google moves its upcoming Google Cloud Next 2020 event to a virtual-only format. These decisions follow health guidance from the CDC, the WHO, and other authorities as the virus reaches tens of thousands of confirmed cases worldwide.