Android Pie new features – AI, App Actions, ‘slices’, digital well-being – could change the way you use your phone

The latest version of Google’s mobile operating system aims to take a lot of the swiping and tapping out of the user experience through AI-based suggestions, faster app access – and even getting you to put your phone down

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Among other things, Android Pie will use AI to improve battery usage and suggest apps you might want to use at the time based on past behaviour.

Published: 5:30pm, 9 Aug 2018Updated: 5:35pm, 9 Aug 2018

Google is rolling out Android Pie, the latest version of its operating system, to phones across the globe – starting with its own Pixel devices.

While Google officially started the roll-out on Monday, most won’t see their phones update this week unless they have a Pixel or select models from smartphone makers including Sony, Essential, Xiaomi and Vivo.

Google did not specify when it will come to other phone makers; that decision is ultimately up to each phone company. In the past, it has taken months for roll-outs to get to the wider reaches of the Android ecosystem. In fact, the last Google Android OS update – released in February – is currently only running on 12 per cent of Android phones, according to Google’s metrics.

Google’s Pixel phones will be the first to receive the Android Pie update. Photo: AP

However, with Android the world’s most dominant operating system, changes to it forecast how most people will be using their phones in the future. Here are some key things to know about Android Pie.

1. AI? Aye-aye