Two big tech trends to dominate Google I/O developers conference

Google is expected to dive deeper into virtual reality and artificial intelligence Wednesday during an annual conference that serves as a launching pad for its latest products and innovations. Although Google keeps its plans under wraps until the big event, the conference agenda makes it clear that virtual reality and artificial intelligence, or "machine learning," will be among the focal points. That has spurred speculation that Google is getting ready to release a virtual-reality device to compete with Facebook's new Oculus Rift headset, as well as the Samsung's Gear VR and the Vive from HTC and Valve. "2016 is already the year of VR," writes CNET's Sarah Mitroff. "[Google] has shown off Cardboard, its low-cost portable VR viewer initiative, for the last two years, and this year we're certain to see new developments."