Google wants you to use its phones less and its AI more - but who's buying it?

Google Pixel 11 Pro Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

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Google claims to want to change your relationship to technology.

A dominant theme at its Made by Google event was how to use its phones less to "be more present".

It's using this idea to sell agentic AI, I argue.

Google wants you to use your phone less. Yes, that new Pixel 11 Pro that Trevor Noah, Peggy Gou, Stephen Gerrard, and Pinkpantheress promoted at its Made by Google event -- it wants you to put down to be more present.

Google's VP Rick Osterloh got on stage to talk to Trevor Noah about how his phone is just too dang distracting, and how he'd love to put it away. Hmm, I wonder if there are a few companies we can blame for that. Are they in the room with us?

Also: Every Pixel device announced at Made by Google 2026: 11 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 5, and more

"Your phones can do so much, but getting all that done today requires you to do all the work, all the tapping, and scrolling," Osterloh said to Noah to kick off the show.

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