For those who dislike making routine phone calls, Google has unveiled an innovative AI solution.
Recently, the tech giant introduced an experimental feature called “Ask for me” in its Search Labs. This feature leverages AI technology to place calls to local businesses on your behalf, inquiring about pricing and availability. Currently available for services at nail salons and local mechanics for tasks like oil changes, more business categories are set to be added soon.
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As the AI sector rapidly evolves, Google is focusing on “agentic” experiences—AI that performs tasks on behalf of users. Automating phone inquiries is just one facet of this direction. Google has also launched its Gemini tool, a research assistant that gathers information from the web. Additionally, another Search Labs experiment allows the AI to hold for users during customer service calls.
The latest Gemini model is integrated with Samsung Galaxy and Pixel phones, offering features for information collection, event scheduling, and messaging.
If you are part of Search Labs, you can activate this experiment for testing. By enrolling, you consent to share data with Google to enhance its AI models. You can then select whether you need information from a nail salon or a mechanic, and follow a few steps to specify the requested services. After providing all necessary details, you can choose to receive a response via SMS or email, typically within 30 minutes.
For those receiving the call, the experience may differ significantly. The call recipient will first hear an automated announcement from Google AI, indicating it is calling on behalf of a user. If they remain on the line, the AI proceeds to ask about pricing and availability, and can understand responses in a conversational tone.
In recent tests, users received a response from Google within 21 minutes regarding prices and availability for a manicure at a local salon, although the AI noted difficulty reaching additional salons, possibly due to being occupied or confused by the automated request.
Topics
Artificial Intelligence
Google
