Google, Adobe cancel live segments of upcoming conventions due to coronavirus concerns

Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Originally scheduled to take place in San Francisco from April 6-8, Google's convention, which last year hosted 30,000 attendees, will now be livestreamed as the rebranded "Google Cloud Next '20: Digital Connect," reports CNBC.

"Out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our customers, partners and employees, and in alignment with the best practices laid out by the CDC, WHO and other relevant entities regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), Google Cloud has decided to reimagine Google Cloud Next '20," the company said.

Google appears prepared and will offer "keynotes, breakout sessions, interactive learning and digital ask an expert' sessions with Google teams" online as a contingency to live interactions.

Adobe, too, has cancelled the live portion of its upcoming Adobe Summit in Las Vegas. The convention was slated to take place between March 29 and April 2.

"Over the past few weeks, we have been closely monitoring and evaluating the situation around COVID-19 to ensure we are taking the necessary measures to protect the health and wellbeing of Adobe Summit attendees," Adobe said. "As a result, we have made the difficult but important decision to make Adobe Summit 2020 an online event this year and to cancel the live event in Las Vegas."

A number of major international events have been cancelled due to concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19. Facebook in February nixed its annual F8 conference, while GSMA cancelled the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona. Most recently, Informa last week called off the 2020 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

The spate of cancellations comes four months ahead of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Though dates have not been announced, Apple typically holds the important event in the San Francisco Bay Area in June to introduce developers and the public to next-generation operating systems set for release this fall.