Google has announced an early experiment for the upcoming Pixel 11 that allows the Gemini assistant to handle local business phone calls on behalf of the user. According to reporting by The Verge, users will be able to delegate tasks such as making reservations, checking product availability, or rescheduling appointments without having to place the call themselves.
The Context of Automated Phone Assistants
The concept of artificial intelligence making phone calls to businesses is not entirely new in the tech industry. Several years ago, Google introduced Duplex, a technology designed to make restaurant reservations and appointment bookings using a natural-sounding synthetic voice. This latest feature for Pixel devices appears to build upon that lineage, integrating advanced conversational capabilities directly into the Gemini ecosystem for everyday consumer utility.
What Remains Unclear
Despite the initial announcement, several key details were not disclosed. The disclosure from Google did not specify how businesses will be notified that they are speaking with an automated AI system rather than a human customer. Additionally, the announcement did not specify an exact release timeline beyond the mention of the Pixel 11, nor did it detail which regions or countries will support the feature when the experiment begins.
As development continues, users and industry observers will be watching to see how businesses respond to automated calling systems and whether regulatory frameworks will require explicit disclosures during these AI-mediated interactions.
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