Gemini Can Now Make Calls to Businesses on Your Behalf — Google Is Testing the Feature

Google is testing a new feature called “Call for Me” that lets Gemini, the company’s AI agent, make phone calls on your behalf. The feature is rolling out first to Pixel 11 owners in the US who pay for a Gemini subscription, and it requires the beta version of Google’s Phone app for Android. It is described as an experiment.

Here is how it works.

What Gemini Can Actually Dial

Gemini can now call businesses, introduce itself, and navigate automated phone menus. It can wait on hold and handle the conversation on the other end. The AI can also share personal information that you approve as part of the calls it makes, which Google says will allow it to take a broader set of actions.

Users can watch the call proceed via a live transcript of the conversation and take over at any time. “Call for Me” uses your own personal phone number to make calls, which are dialed directly from your phone.

The feature covers a range of tasks:

• Calling a store to check if a product is in stock
• Making a restaurant reservation
• Moving a scheduled appointment to a different date
• Placing items on hold

The History Behind This Test

Google has been working on AI-assisted, automated calling for years. At its I/O developer conference, the company showed off a demo where Google Assistant called a salon to make a reservation and added little “umm’s” and “ahh’s” to make the conversation sound natural.

Last year, Google rolled out “Ask for Me,” a feature that let Gemini call businesses on behalf of users to inquire about things like pricing or services. People with Pixel smartphones have also had access to features like “Hold for Me” or “Talk to a Live Rep,” which can navigate phone trees and then automatically wait on hold until a real person answers.

Another option, “Direct My Call,” can display the numbers needed to navigate IVR systems.

Why Google Is Starting Small

Google said it is starting this experiment at a small scale because “real-world conversations are nuanced.” The company needs time to get the feature right before rolling it out more broadly.

The feature is still in beta, which means it is not yet finished. Users will need to install the beta version of the Phone app to try it out.

What This Means for You

If you own a Pixel 11 and subscribe to Gemini, you can test “Call for Me” now. The feature is designed to handle tasks that would otherwise require you to pick up the phone yourself. Instead, the AI does the dialing, the waiting, and the talking.

The live transcript lets you see what Gemini is saying and doing in real time.

The Comparison to Other Agents

Meta’s Muse and Instinct can already make calls on users’ behalf. Google is now joining that group with its own system.

The difference is in the information shared. Prior Google calling features were limited in what they could do. With “Call for Me,” Gemini can use personal information you approve, which Google says allows it to take a broader set of actions.

The feature is available to Pixel 11 owners who pay for a Gemini subscription in the US, and it requires the beta version of Google’s Phone app for Android. Google describes it as an experiment, and the company is starting small to get it right before rolling it out more broadly.

Here is how the rollout breaks down by timing:

1. The I/O developer conference demo from years ago showed Google Assistant calling a salon to make a reservation.
2. Last year, Google rolled out “Ask for Me,” which let Gemini call businesses on behalf of users.
3. Now, “Call for Me” is rolling out to Pixel 11 owners with a Gemini subscription in the US.
4. The company is starting small because “real-world conversations are nuanced.”

The transcript feature is a notable part of the experience. It gives users a window into the call, so they can step in if Gemini goes off course. Whether that is the defining feature or simply one of many remains to be seen, but it is a tool users will have while the experiment runs.

Source material: “Google tests letting Gemini call businesses for you,” TechCrunch.

AI assistant · automated calls · Gemini · Google Phone app · Pixel 11