Google cancels I/O developer conference amid coronavirus concerns

Enlarge / Google (and now also Alphabet) CEO Sundar Pichai speaking at the last year's Google I/O conference, May 7, 2019. (credit: JOSH EDELSON | AFP | Getty Images)

Silicon Valley's spring series of tech shows continues to dwindle in the face of communicable disease: Google's I/O developer conference for 2020 has now been canceled as the company cites coronavirus concerns.

"Due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities, we have decided to cancel the physical Google I/O event," the company said. In lieu of bringing a whole bunch of breathing, potentially coughing people together in one place, "we will explore other ways to evolve Google I/O to best connect with our developer community," likely with a heavy focus on online delivery.

Anyone who purchased a pass to the 2020 I/O will receive a full refund by March 13, Google's website says, and all registered attendees for the 2020 show will automatically be "extended an invitation" for the 2021 edition.

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