There are many tasksthat AIcan now perform on our devices that weren’t possible just a few years ago, such asgenerating images, creating text summaries, assisting with translations, and engaging in real-time conversations.
Thanks to the widespread adoption ofGoogle Geminion Android devices, it has become one of the most popular AI models for users, alongsideChatGPT. Google has been highlighting recent advances with Gemini, most recently at its Android Show: I/O Edition, where it announced that Gemini would be rolling out to evenmore devicesin the coming months, including your smartwatch, Android Auto, Google TV, and Android XR.
Now, Google is promoting its next major advancement with Gemini, specifically the ability to make phone calls on your behalf. The feature is rolling out now, available only in the US, and enables users to make phone calls to local businesses using AI. It appears as an option when you search for a company on Google and is limited to certain types of local businesses, such as pet groomers, dry cleaners, and auto shops (viaThe Verge). Google sees this as a way to make it easier for you to quickly check prices and services available at a local business without having to call them yourself.
“To help you get even more done, we’re now bringing a new, agentic capability directly into Search: AI-powered calling to local businesses,” Google said in ablog post. “From pet grooming to dry cleaning needs, Search can now call businesses to get pricing and availability information on your behalf – without you needing to pick up the phone.”
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How does calling a local business using AI work?
Google will ask you about the services you need and your location
When you search for a local business on Google Search that is eligible for AI-powered calling, you’ll see an option called “Have AI check pricing” appear. When you tap on that, a list of options will appear depending on the type of business it is. For example, if it’s a pet groomer you’re inquiring about, Google will ask you what kind of pet you have, its breed, and the services you require, such as a bath, brushing, ear cleaning, flea treatment, haircut, etc.
Once you’ve selected the services you need, Google will then ask you when you’d like to go and present three options: I’m flexible, Within 48 hours, and Within a week. you’re able to then select how you’d like to receive the results of the AI-powered phone calls, either over text or email, and confirm your location. Google will then call some of the local pet grooming services on your behalf and send you all the consolidated results.
While Google’s AI-powered phone call feature is neat, I find myself torn about it. Whatever happened to simply picking up the phone and quickly calling someone to figure something out?
When Gemini calls a local business, it will identify itself as AI from Google, attempting to gather information on behalf of a customer. If a local business wants to opt out of receiving these types of automated phone calls, they can do so by changing theirbusiness profile settingson Google or by telling it over the phone when it calls. AI-powered phone calls are available in most states, except Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, and Nebraska.
While Google’s AI-powered phone call feature is neat, I find myself torn about it. Whatever happened to simply picking up the phone and quickly calling someone to figure something out? Do we really need AI to do everything for us?Studies already showthat Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) have more anxiety about phone calls than any other generation, so I don’t feel like a feature like this helps them overcome it. Now, in all fairness, from an accessibility standpoint, I can see that this feature would assist many people, so I can see the merits of it. It will be interesting to see if Google rolls this feature out to more types of businesses in the future, and beyond the US.
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