During the conversation, Gemini identifies itself as an AI assistant and can speak with the person on the other end. It can also work through automated phone menus, remain on hold, and continue once a live person answers.
Users can follow the call through a live transcript on their Pixel and take control at any point. Google says calls are placed using the user’s own phone number rather than a separate number controlled by the company.
The feature can also use personal information that the user approves for the task. That could allow Gemini to provide details needed to complete a reservation, change an appointment, or handle another request that requires more than a generic inquiry.
Google says Call for Me is primarily intended for businesses, although users can provide a specific phone number if Gemini cannot find one on its own. The company says some categories, including emergency services, are excluded.
The assistant uses the same voice used for Gemini Live conversations during these calls. Google says that remains the case even if a user has selected a different preferred Gemini voice.
Call for Me builds on several calling features already available through Google’s Phone app. Hold for Me can wait on hold until a person answers, while Direct My Call displays automated menu options on screen. Google also offers call screening and real-time scam detection on supported devices.
The new feature goes further by letting Gemini conduct the full conversation instead of only helping the user get through part of the call.
Google has experimented with automated calling for years. Earlier efforts included Duplex, which used Google Assistant to contact businesses for reservations, and Ask for Me, which could call businesses to collect information such as pricing or service details.
The difference with Call for Me is the broader range of actions Gemini can attempt and the amount of the conversation it can manage directly.
Google is keeping the rollout small for now because business calls are unpredictable. Accents, background noise, automated menus, and unexpected responses can all complicate an interaction that appears simple from the user’s side.
“That is exactly what we want to continue testing,” a Google spokesperson said. “With this experiment, we look forward to users testing a variety of cases, so that we can continue to improve the feature across accents and noisy environments.”
Google also says Gemini will end the call politely if a business cannot fulfill the request.
For now, Call for Me remains an experiment limited to Pixel 11 owners who meet the subscription and beta requirements. The feature gives Google another way to move Gemini beyond answering questions and into handling real-world tasks directly on a user’s behalf.
This analysis is based on reporting from WIRED.
Image courtesy of Google.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
