diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index ba43ee79e6f36..8c3985addcf81 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -5477,6 +5477,9 @@
     <permission android:name="android.permission.SIGNAL_REBOOT_READINESS"
                 android:protectionLevel="signature|privileged" />
 
+    <!-- @hide Allows an application to get a People Tile preview for a given shortcut. -->
+    <permission android:name="android.permission.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW"
+        android:protectionLevel="signature|recents" />
 
     <!-- Attribution for Geofencing service. -->
     <attribution android:tag="GeofencingService" android:label="@string/geofencing_service"/>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml b/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
index 5af0244489878..2faca8dbdcbfa 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -600,6 +600,14 @@
             android:permission="android.permission.BIND_REMOTEVIEWS"
             android:exported="false" />
 
+        <!-- ContentProvider that returns a People Tile preview for a given shortcut -->
+        <provider
+            android:name="com.android.systemui.people.PeopleProvider"
+            android:authorities="com.android.systemui.people.PeopleProvider"
+            android:exported="true"
+            android:permission="android.permission.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW">
+        </provider>
+
         <!-- a gallery of delicious treats -->
         <service
             android:name=".DessertCaseDream"
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/shared/src/com/android/systemui/shared/system/PeopleProviderUtils.java b/packages/SystemUI/shared/src/com/android/systemui/shared/system/PeopleProviderUtils.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..15cf3696fec7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/shared/src/com/android/systemui/shared/system/PeopleProviderUtils.java
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.systemui.shared.system;
+
+/**
+ *  These strings are part of the {@link com.android.systemui.people.PeopleProvider} API
+ *  contract. The API returns a People Tile preview that can be displayed by calling packages.
+ *  The provider is part of the SystemUI service, and the strings live here for shared access with
+ *  Launcher (caller).
+ */
+public class PeopleProviderUtils {
+    /**
+     * ContentProvider URI scheme.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String PEOPLE_PROVIDER_SCHEME = "content://";
+
+    /**
+     * ContentProvider URI authority.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String PEOPLE_PROVIDER_AUTHORITY =
+            "com.android.systemui.people.PeopleProvider";
+
+    /**
+     * Method name for getting People Tile preview.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_METHOD = "get_people_tile_preview";
+
+    /**
+     * Extras bundle key specifying shortcut Id of the People Tile preview requested.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String EXTRAS_KEY_SHORTCUT_ID = "shortcut_id";
+
+    /**
+     * Extras bundle key specifying package name of the People Tile preview requested.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String EXTRAS_KEY_PACKAGE_NAME = "package_name";
+
+    /**
+     * Extras bundle key specifying {@code UserHandle} of the People Tile preview requested.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String EXTRAS_KEY_USER_HANDLE = "user_handle";
+
+    /**
+     * Response bundle key to access the returned People Tile preview.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String RESPONSE_KEY_REMOTE_VIEWS = "remote_views";
+
+    /**
+     * Name of the permission needed to get a People Tile preview for a given conversation shortcut.
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final String GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_PERMISSION =
+            "android.permission.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW";
+
+}
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProvider.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProvider.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e7458a3df8015
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProvider.java
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.systemui.people;
+
+import android.app.people.ConversationChannel;
+import android.app.people.IPeopleManager;
+import android.app.people.PeopleSpaceTile;
+import android.content.ContentProvider;
+import android.content.ContentValues;
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.content.pm.LauncherApps;
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
+import android.database.Cursor;
+import android.net.Uri;
+import android.os.Binder;
+import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.os.ServiceManager;
+import android.os.UserHandle;
+import android.util.Log;
+import android.widget.RemoteViews;
+
+import com.android.systemui.shared.system.PeopleProviderUtils;
+
+/** API that returns a People Tile preview. */
+public class PeopleProvider extends ContentProvider {
+
+    LauncherApps mLauncherApps;
+    IPeopleManager mPeopleManager;
+
+    private static final String TAG = "PeopleProvider";
+    private static final boolean DEBUG = PeopleSpaceUtils.DEBUG;
+    private static final String EMPTY_STRING = "";
+
+    @Override
+    public Bundle call(String method, String arg, Bundle extras) {
+        if (!doesCallerHavePermission()) {
+            String callingPackage = getCallingPackage();
+            Log.w(TAG, "API not accessible to calling package: " + callingPackage);
+            throw new SecurityException("API not accessible to calling package: " + callingPackage);
+        }
+        if (!PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_METHOD.equals(method)) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Invalid method");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid method");
+        }
+
+        // If services are not set as mocks in tests, fetch them now.
+        mPeopleManager = mPeopleManager != null ? mPeopleManager
+                : IPeopleManager.Stub.asInterface(
+                        ServiceManager.getService(Context.PEOPLE_SERVICE));
+        mLauncherApps = mLauncherApps != null ? mLauncherApps
+                : getContext().getSystemService(LauncherApps.class);
+
+        if (mPeopleManager == null || mLauncherApps == null) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Null system managers");
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if (extras == null) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Extras can't be null");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Extras can't be null");
+        }
+
+        String shortcutId = extras.getString(
+                PeopleProviderUtils.EXTRAS_KEY_SHORTCUT_ID, EMPTY_STRING);
+        String packageName = extras.getString(
+                PeopleProviderUtils.EXTRAS_KEY_PACKAGE_NAME, EMPTY_STRING);
+        UserHandle userHandle = extras.getParcelable(
+                PeopleProviderUtils.EXTRAS_KEY_USER_HANDLE);
+        if (shortcutId.isEmpty()) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Invalid shortcut id");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid shortcut id");
+        }
+
+        if (packageName.isEmpty()) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Invalid package name");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid package name");
+        }
+        if (userHandle == null) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Null user handle");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Null user handle");
+        }
+
+        ConversationChannel channel;
+        try {
+            channel = mPeopleManager.getConversation(
+                    packageName, userHandle.getIdentifier(), shortcutId);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Exception getting tiles: " + e);
+            return null;
+        }
+        PeopleSpaceTile tile = PeopleSpaceUtils.getTile(channel, mLauncherApps);
+
+        if (tile == null) {
+            if (DEBUG) Log.i(TAG, "No tile was returned");
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if (DEBUG) Log.i(TAG, "Returning tile preview for shortcutId: " + shortcutId);
+        RemoteViews view = PeopleSpaceUtils.createRemoteViews(getContext(), tile, 0);
+        final Bundle bundle = new Bundle();
+        bundle.putParcelable(PeopleProviderUtils.RESPONSE_KEY_REMOTE_VIEWS, view);
+        return bundle;
+    }
+
+    private boolean doesCallerHavePermission() {
+        return getContext().checkPermission(
+                    PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_PERMISSION,
+                    Binder.getCallingPid(), Binder.getCallingUid())
+                == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean onCreate() {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Cursor query(Uri uri, String[] projection, String selection,
+            String[] selectionArgs, String sortOrder) {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid method");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getType(Uri uri) {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid method");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Uri insert(Uri uri, ContentValues initialValues) {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid method");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int delete(Uri uri, String selection, String[] selectionArgs) {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid method");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int update(Uri uri, ContentValues values, String selection, String[] selectionArgs) {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid method");
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleSpaceUtils.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleSpaceUtils.java
index dd054848aed25..7eb1fc175c5af 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleSpaceUtils.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleSpaceUtils.java
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ import android.provider.ContactsContract;
 import android.provider.Settings;
 import android.service.notification.ConversationChannelWrapper;
 import android.service.notification.StatusBarNotification;
+import android.text.TextUtils;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.widget.RemoteViews;
@@ -438,7 +439,7 @@ public class PeopleSpaceUtils {
     }
 
     /** Creates a {@link RemoteViews} for {@code tile}. */
-    private static RemoteViews createRemoteViews(Context context,
+    public static RemoteViews createRemoteViews(Context context,
             PeopleSpaceTile tile, int appWidgetId) {
         RemoteViews views;
         if (tile.getNotificationKey() != null) {
@@ -455,6 +456,9 @@ public class PeopleSpaceUtils {
             PeopleSpaceTile tile, int appWidgetId) {
         try {
             views.setTextViewText(R.id.name, tile.getUserName().toString());
+            views.setImageViewIcon(R.id.person_icon, tile.getUserIcon());
+            views.setBoolean(R.id.content_background, "setClipToOutline", true);
+
             views.setImageViewBitmap(
                     R.id.package_icon,
                     PeopleSpaceUtils.convertDrawableToBitmap(
@@ -462,8 +466,6 @@ public class PeopleSpaceUtils {
                                     tile.getPackageName())
                     )
             );
-            views.setImageViewIcon(R.id.person_icon, tile.getUserIcon());
-            views.setBoolean(R.id.content_background, "setClipToOutline", true);
 
             Intent activityIntent = new Intent(context, LaunchConversationActivity.class);
             activityIntent.addFlags(
@@ -612,6 +614,22 @@ public class PeopleSpaceUtils {
                 .collect(Collectors.toList());
     }
 
+    /** Returns {@code PeopleSpaceTile} based on provided  {@ConversationChannel}. */
+    public static PeopleSpaceTile getTile(ConversationChannel channel, LauncherApps launcherApps) {
+        if (channel == null) {
+            Log.i(TAG, "ConversationChannel is null");
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        PeopleSpaceTile tile = new PeopleSpaceTile.Builder(channel, launcherApps).build();
+        if (!PeopleSpaceUtils.shouldKeepConversation(tile)) {
+            Log.i(TAG, "PeopleSpaceTile is not valid");
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return tile;
+    }
+
     /** Returns the last interaction time with the user specified by {@code PeopleSpaceTile}. */
     private static Long getLastInteraction(IPeopleManager peopleManager,
             PeopleSpaceTile tile) {
@@ -701,7 +719,7 @@ public class PeopleSpaceUtils {
      * </li>
      */
     public static boolean shouldKeepConversation(PeopleSpaceTile tile) {
-        return tile != null && tile.getUserName().length() != 0;
+        return tile != null && !TextUtils.isEmpty(tile.getUserName());
     }
 
     private static boolean hasBirthdayStatus(PeopleSpaceTile tile, Context context) {
@@ -792,8 +810,7 @@ public class PeopleSpaceUtils {
     private static void updateAppWidgetOptionsAndView(AppWidgetManager appWidgetManager,
             Context context, int appWidgetId, PeopleSpaceTile tile) {
         updateAppWidgetOptions(appWidgetManager, appWidgetId, tile);
-        RemoteViews views = createRemoteViews(context,
-                tile, appWidgetId);
+        RemoteViews views = createRemoteViews(context, tile, appWidgetId);
         appWidgetManager.updateAppWidget(appWidgetId, views);
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProviderTest.java b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProviderTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..b3ad6ef8da6e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProviderTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.systemui.people;
+
+import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
+
+import static org.mockito.ArgumentMatchers.eq;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
+
+import android.app.people.ConversationChannel;
+import android.app.people.IPeopleManager;
+import android.content.pm.LauncherApps;
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
+import android.content.pm.ShortcutInfo;
+import android.net.Uri;
+import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.os.RemoteException;
+import android.os.UserHandle;
+import android.testing.AndroidTestingRunner;
+import android.widget.RemoteViews;
+
+import androidx.test.filters.SmallTest;
+
+import com.android.systemui.SysuiTestCase;
+import com.android.systemui.shared.system.PeopleProviderUtils;
+
+import junit.framework.Assert;
+
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+import org.mockito.Mock;
+import org.mockito.MockitoAnnotations;
+
+@RunWith(AndroidTestingRunner.class)
+@SmallTest
+public class PeopleProviderTest extends SysuiTestCase {
+    private static final String TAG = "PeopleProviderTest";
+
+    private static final Uri URI = Uri.parse(PeopleProviderUtils.PEOPLE_PROVIDER_SCHEME
+            + PeopleProviderUtils.PEOPLE_PROVIDER_AUTHORITY);
+
+    private static final String SHORTCUT_ID_A = "shortcut_id_a";
+    private static final String PACKAGE_NAME_A = "package_name_a";
+    private static final UserHandle USER_HANDLE_A = UserHandle.of(1);
+    private static final String USERNAME = "username";
+
+    private final ShortcutInfo mShortcutInfo =
+            new ShortcutInfo.Builder(mContext, SHORTCUT_ID_A).setLongLabel(USERNAME).build();
+    private final ConversationChannel mConversationChannel =
+            new ConversationChannel(mShortcutInfo, USER_HANDLE_A.getIdentifier(),
+                    null, null, 0L, false);
+
+    private Bundle mExtras = new Bundle();
+
+    @Mock
+    private LauncherApps mLauncherApps;
+    @Mock
+    private PackageManager mPackageManager;
+    @Mock
+    private IPeopleManager mPeopleManager;
+
+    @Before
+    public void setUp() throws Exception {
+        MockitoAnnotations.initMocks(this);
+        mContext.setMockPackageManager(mPackageManager);
+
+        PeopleProviderTestable provider = new PeopleProviderTestable();
+        provider.initializeForTesting(
+                mContext, PeopleProviderUtils.PEOPLE_PROVIDER_AUTHORITY);
+        provider.setLauncherApps(mLauncherApps);
+        provider.setPeopleManager(mPeopleManager);
+        mContext.getContentResolver().addProvider(
+                PeopleProviderUtils.PEOPLE_PROVIDER_AUTHORITY, provider);
+
+        mContext.getTestablePermissions().setPermission(
+                PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_PERMISSION,
+                PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED);
+
+        when(mPeopleManager.getConversation(
+                eq(PACKAGE_NAME_A), eq(USER_HANDLE_A.getIdentifier()), eq(SHORTCUT_ID_A)))
+                .thenReturn(mConversationChannel);
+
+        mExtras.putString(PeopleProviderUtils.EXTRAS_KEY_SHORTCUT_ID, SHORTCUT_ID_A);
+        mExtras.putString(PeopleProviderUtils.EXTRAS_KEY_PACKAGE_NAME, PACKAGE_NAME_A);
+        mExtras.putParcelable(PeopleProviderUtils.EXTRAS_KEY_USER_HANDLE, USER_HANDLE_A);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testPermissionDeniedThrowsSecurityException() throws RemoteException {
+        mContext.getTestablePermissions().setPermission(
+                PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_PERMISSION,
+                PackageManager.PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        try {
+            Bundle result = mContext.getContentResolver()
+                    .call(URI, PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_METHOD, null, null);
+            Assert.fail("Call should have failed with SecurityException");
+        } catch (SecurityException e) {
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            Assert.fail("Call should have failed with SecurityException");
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testPermissionGrantedNoExtraReturnsNull() throws RemoteException {
+        try {
+            Bundle result = mContext.getContentResolver()
+                    .call(URI, PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_METHOD, null, null);
+            Assert.fail("Call should have failed with IllegalArgumentException");
+        } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            Assert.fail("Call should have failed with IllegalArgumentException");
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testPermissionGrantedExtrasReturnsRemoteViews() throws RemoteException {
+        try {
+            Bundle result = mContext.getContentResolver().call(
+                    URI, PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_METHOD, null, mExtras);
+            RemoteViews views = result.getParcelable(
+                    PeopleProviderUtils.RESPONSE_KEY_REMOTE_VIEWS);
+            assertThat(views).isNotNull();
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            Assert.fail("Fail " + e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testPermissionGrantedNoConversationForShortcutReturnsNull() throws RemoteException {
+        when(mPeopleManager.getConversation(
+                eq(PACKAGE_NAME_A), eq(USER_HANDLE_A.getIdentifier()), eq(SHORTCUT_ID_A)))
+                .thenReturn(null);
+        try {
+            Bundle result = mContext.getContentResolver().call(
+                    URI, PeopleProviderUtils.GET_PEOPLE_TILE_PREVIEW_METHOD, null, mExtras);
+            assertThat(result).isNull();
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            Assert.fail("Fail " + e);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProviderTestable.java b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProviderTestable.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ac1893413c509
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleProviderTestable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.systemui.people;
+
+import android.app.people.IPeopleManager;
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.content.pm.LauncherApps;
+import android.content.pm.ProviderInfo;
+
+public class PeopleProviderTestable extends PeopleProvider {
+
+    public void initializeForTesting(Context context, String authority) {
+        ProviderInfo info = new ProviderInfo();
+        info.authority = authority;
+
+        attachInfoForTesting(context, info);
+    }
+
+    void setLauncherApps(LauncherApps launcherApps) {
+        mLauncherApps = launcherApps;
+    }
+
+    void setPeopleManager(IPeopleManager peopleManager) {
+        mPeopleManager = peopleManager;
+    }
+}