For individuals who dislike making routine phone calls, Google now offers an AI solution. On Thursday, the tech giant announced “Ask for me,” an experiment within its Search Labs for Google Search. This feature utilizes AI to contact local businesses on your behalf and inquire about pricing and availability. Currently, the feature is operational for contacting nail salons and local mechanics for services like an oil change or other typical car maintenance tasks, though more businesses are set to be included in the near future as per the options menu.
Google’s ‘Daily Listen’ AI generates customized mini podcasts
Google, like the rest of the AI industry, is increasingly focusing on agentic experiences – AI that can perform tasks on your behalf. Streamlining information-gathering phone calls is just one way in which it is doing so. Google recently introduced a Gemini tool that serves as a research assistant capable of gathering data from the web, and it also unveiled another Search Labs experiment that waits on hold during customer service calls.
Mashable Light Speed
The latest Gemini model from Google is integrated with the newest Samsung Galaxy and Pixel phones, offering features for aggregating information, creating calendar events, and sending messages.
If you are enrolled in Search Labs, you can enable the experiment for testing. Note: By enrolling in Search Labs, you consent to sharing this data with Google for the enhancement of its AI models. Next, specify whether you seek information about a nail salon or mechanic, and proceed through the following steps pertaining to the services you require. Once all relevant details are provided, opt to receive a response via SMS or email, which typically takes up to 30 minutes.
As for the recipient of the call, the experience differs. The individual who answers the phone will receive an automated notification from Google AI indicating that it is calling on behalf of a user. If they have not hung up already – considering most would assume it is spam initially – the AI will proceed to inquire about pricing and availability. The receiver can respond conversationally to the bot, which is capable of understanding these responses and relaying them back to you.
Upon trying out the feature, we received a response from Google after 21 minutes, informing us about pricing and availability for a manicure at a local salon. The Google bot also mentioned attempting to contact other salons but stated that they were unreachable, possibly due to being occupied or perplexed by the automated inquiry.
Topics
Artificial Intelligence
Google
