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Gemini can now phone businesses for you and wait on hold

Google is testing a feature that lets Gemini make calls on your behalf, from booking a table to rescheduling an appointment. It starts small: Pixel 11 owners in the US.

Techlantis Desk1 min read
Gemini can now phone businesses for you and wait on hold
Illustration: Techlantis

The 30-second version

The details

  • Gemini can call a business for you: check whether something is in stock, make a reservation or move an appointment.
  • It navigates phone menus, waits on hold and talks to staff. You can follow a live transcript and take over at any time.
  • Calls come from your own phone number, and you approve any personal details Gemini shares.
  • For now it's a small test for US Pixel 11 owners with a paid Gemini plan and the beta Google Phone app.

Why it matters

Phone calls are one of the most common everyday tasks an AI agent can take off your plate. How Google handles disclosure, consent and mistakes here will set expectations for every assistant that makes calls for you.

The full story

Google is starting to let Gemini make phone calls for you. The feature can ring a business, get through the automated menu, sit on hold and handle the conversation. Examples include checking whether a store has a product, booking a restaurant or moving an appointment.

How it works

You ask Gemini to make the call, and it places it from your own phone number. While it talks, you can read a live transcript and jump in whenever you want. If the business asks for personal details, Gemini checks with you before sharing them.

Who gets it

For now this is an experiment. It is limited to Pixel 11 owners in the US who pay for a Gemini subscription and use the beta version of the Google Phone app. Google says real phone conversations are messy and it wants to refine the feature before a wider launch.

The backstory

Google has been working toward this for years. It famously demoed its assistant booking a hair salon appointment in 2018, and later added phone features such as having Google wait on hold for you or call businesses to ask questions. This version hands the whole call to Gemini.

What's next

Watch for a wider rollout beyond Pixel, and for how businesses respond to more of their incoming calls coming from AI.

Quick questions

What can Gemini do on a phone call?

It can call a business to check product availability, make a reservation or reschedule an appointment. It handles phone menus, waits on hold and talks to staff for you.

Who can use Gemini's calling feature?

For now, only Pixel 11 owners in the US with a paid Gemini subscription and the beta Google Phone app. Google calls it a small experiment.

Can I stay in control of the call?

Yes. You can follow a live transcript, take over at any time, and approve any personal details before Gemini shares them. Calls use your own phone number.

Source: TechCrunch

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