Google's Android 15 uses AI to lock your phone when someone grabs it

Google's next major version of Android operating system is here - if you have a Pixel phone, that is.

On Tuesday, Google launched Android 15, making it available on Pixel devices (more precisely, Pixel 6 and newer).

Some of the biggest new features are focused on privacy and security. Theft Detection Lock, for example, is an interesting feature that uses AI smarts to detect when someone has snatched your phone and is running (biking, driving) away with it. In such cases, the phone will automatically lock itself, keeping you safe from potential data theft. Remote Lock is another security feature, allowing you to remotely lock your phone from any other phone by using your phone number and passing a security check.

If someone steals your phone and makes a run with it, the phone will now automatically lock itself. Credit: Google

Another new feature is called private space (for some reason, Google is capitalizing some, but not all of these features). It lets you lock certain apps into a special, "virtually" invisible folder, that's hidden from your apps list, recent apps view, notifications, and settings. To access these apps, you'll have to authenticate with a fingerprint scan, for example. Additionally, you can completely hide the existence of the private space on your phone, which should be handy if someone is coercing you to hand over whatever is contained within.

So private, it's (virtually) invisible. Credit: Google

Other new improvements include logging in with a single tap when you use Passkeys, app pairing on foldables and tablets, allowing you to quickly launch two apps at the same time, as well as the ability to quickly pin and unpin your taskbar on the screen.

While Android 15 is rolling out to Pixels first, it will probably take some time until it starts showing up on other Android phones. The good news is that some of these features, including Theft Detection Lock and Remote Lock, will be coming to devices running older versions of Android (version 10 and newer).