<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="2160" height="2160" src="https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026.jpg" alt="E136: Google I/O 2026" class="wp-image-3859" srcset="https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026.jpg 2160w, https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026-150x150.jpg 150w, https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026-768x768.jpg 768w, https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026-270x270.jpg 270w, https://upagainstreality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/052626-UAR-E136-Google_IO_2026-526x526.jpg 526w" sizes="(max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px" /></figure>
We’re unpacking everything from Google I/O and why their head of AI says we’re standing in the &#8220;foothills of the singularity.&#8221; Plus, an all-AI feature film crashes Cannes, Barnes &#38; Noble’s massive PR bonfire, and the Pope teaming up with an AI startup at the Vatican. Wait, what?
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
<a href="https://io.google/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google I/O 2026</a>
<a href="https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/developers-tools/google-io-2026-collection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google I/O 2026 announcements collection</a>
<a href="https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/ai/google-io-2026-all-our-announcements/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">100 things announced at Google I/O 2026</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYSncx9zLIU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google I/O 2026 keynote</a>
<a href="https://deepmind.google/blog/demis-hassabis-john-jumper-awarded-nobel-prize-in-chemistry/">Demis Hassabis and John Jumper Nobel Prize / AlphaFold</a>
<a href="https://song.link" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">song.link &#124; smart link tool for music and podcasts</a>
<a href="https://youtu.be/CVzfQuC0aMU?si=ysQM-K4pWpC16vxP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hell Grind &#124; Official trailer for AI-generated feature film</a>
PODCAST INFO:
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Episode link: <a href="https://upagainstreality.com/2026/05/26/google-i-o-2026/">https://upagainstreality.com/2026/05/26/google-i-o-2026/</a>
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Welcome to Up Against Reality, a meta-podcast that explores the intersection of humanity and artificial intelligence. Hosted by RAINA and her human co-hosts, Larry Bentley and Chris Ippolito. Featuring riveting conversation, interviews, news and some wild experimentation. It truly is a brave new world, and we\’re here to simplify it for you. It\’s gonna be a wild ride, so buckle up, as A.I. comes crashing Up Against Reality.