Android 9 Pie comes to Google Pixel, featuring AI to make you use your phone less

The latest version of Android will make you use your smartphone less

Google has released the ninth edition of its mobile operating system, with a range of features aimed at providing a more personalised experience for smartphone users.

Android Pie – named in line with Google's habit of picking a dessert or sweet-based nickname for its mobile software – will initially only be available on the technology giant's own Pixel smartphones, while other device manufacturers can expect to receive the update by the "end of this fall".

The world's most popular mobile operating system is used on nearly every smartphone and tablet that isn't made by Apple, with 85 per cent of all smartphones sold in the first quarter of 2018 running some version of Android.

One of Android 9's biggest selling points is its use of artificial intelligence to maximise battery life.

"Android 9 harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to give you more from your phone," Android states on its website. "Now it's smarter, faster and adapts as you use it."

The aim of the AI is to provide a tailored experience to the user, with the operating system learning the user's preferences over time.

"We've built Android 9 to learn from you – and work better for you – the more you use it," Sameer Samat, vice president of product management at Android, said in a blog post.

"From predicting your next task so you can jump right into the action you want to take, to prioritising battery power for the apps you use most, to helping you disconnect from your phone at the end of the day, Android 9 adapts to your life and the ways you like to use your phone."

To help people disconnect from their device, Android Pie includes tools for "digital wellbeing", which aims to limit people's time spent using their smartphone. The tool allows people to set timers on specific apps that lock them out once they have reached the limit.

A Wind Down Mode also acts as a way to tone down the invasiveness of the technology at the end of the day. Once enabled, the screen turns to greyscale and Do Not Disturb mode is activated to prevent notifications making any noise or vibration.

The software comes in response to criticism surrounding the addictiveness of smartphones and other devices.

"While much of the time we spend on our phones is useful, many of us wish we could disconnect more easily and free up time for other things," Google said in a blog post introducing the new controls.

"In fact, over 70 per cent of people we talked to in our research said they want more help with this. So we've been working to add key capabilities right into Android to help people achieve the balance with technology they're looking for."