Android Pie’s Best New Feature For Retail AppsGoogle wants people spending less time on phones, but Pie's new Slices could be a lifeline for e-commerce apps.

[Collection]Android Pie can save people from themselves, or so Google hopes. The update could also give retail apps some new powers. The tech company officially unveiled the latest version of the world’s top mobile operating system, a major update that aims to help users manage their smartphone usage and better safeguard their data. But the software also introduces a feature called Slices, a new form of micro actions that people can trigger through search, instead of launching a full-blown app. In its official blog post, Google described Android Pie, alternatively Android P or Android 9, as “powered by AI for a smarter, simpler experience that adapts to you.” The theme resonates strongly in the retail sector, which has been increasingly looking to artificial intelligence, machine learning and other related approaches for customer insights and personalization. The premise is similar on Android, but experienced through a mobile computing environment. With Slices, developers can give their users easy access to extra content and controls, so people can perform tasks without firing up installed apps and pecking around for what they need. And results can be tailored to their preferences, location or account details. Merchants can use the new feature to help search for items or saved shopping

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