Google is officially removing one of the most universally dreaded tasks from your to-do list: making phone calls. Thanks to its latest AI advancement, the tech giant is now enabling everyone in the US to have an AI agent call local businesses directly, eliminating the need for awkward conversations when checking prices or availability.
The feature, which debuted as a limited test in January, is now widely available through Google Search. For specific business types—such as pet groomers, auto shops, and dry cleaners—Google now offers a prompt beneath the business listing to “have AI check pricing.” When selected, the feature asks users for essential details about their request, such as their pet’s breed, the type of service needed, preferred timing, and how they’d like updates (via text or email). Once provided, Google’s AI takes over, making a call on the user’s behalf.
Behind this seemingly futuristic convenience lies Google’s powerful Duplex technology, enhanced by the Gemini model. According to Robby Stein, vice president of product for Google Search, Gemini integrated with Duplex enables the AI assistant to clearly identify itself as “an AI from Google calling on behalf of a customer.” It then gathers necessary information from the business and quickly relays the findings back to users via text.
This innovative feature might prove particularly appealing to younger users, many of whom report feeling anxious or reluctant to make phone calls themselves. Now, instead of procrastinating or skipping out entirely, these users can delegate the task confidently to their AI assistant.
Business owners concerned about receiving automated calls have the option to opt-out via their Google business profile settings. For regular users, the feature is broadly accessible, but subscribers of Google AI Pro and AI Ultra will enjoy increased limits, allowing them to leverage the AI calling service more frequently.
Alongside this broader rollout, Google is testing its next-generation Gemini 2.5 Pro model within its AI Mode, the advanced search tool first introduced to US users in May. Available as part of Google Labs experiments to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, Gemini 2.5 Pro promises superior performance in complex reasoning, math, and coding tasks.
Additionally, Google is piloting a new “Deep Search” feature within AI Mode, where the Gemini model conducts in-depth multi-step reasoning to provide detailed reports about queries. Stein notes that the AI actively “checks its work” and iteratively asks new questions, executing multiple Google searches along the way, ensuring users receive highly accurate and thoroughly vetted responses.
GIF: Google
With these enhancements, Google continues to reshape how people interact with information and local businesses, providing users powerful new ways to navigate everyday tasks—starting with sparing you from those awkward phone calls.
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