Google Gemini can now make everyday phone calls on your behalf, following an expansion of the mobile AI assistant’s capabilities announced on Thursday. Billed as an agentic feature, the tool is designed to handle routine calls to businesses, and it is gradually rolling out to eligible users.
The feature begins with a “@Call for me” prompt within the Gemini app on your phone. From there, Gemini could ring a store to confirm opening hours or check product availability. With the right instructions, it could call a local restaurant to book a table at a specific time, or ask a service provider about pricing, such as the cost of dry cleaning a suit.
There are clear boundaries on what the assistant will do. Gemini is intentionally restricted when it comes to closing a transaction. It is designed not to make payments or share a credit card number, although it can pass on your name and contact details.
How the call-for-me feature works
For many tasks, that limitation means you will need to follow along via a transcript or listen in on the call. A “take over” option lets you step in for the AI to provide sensitive information yourself. This restricts how much time the feature can realistically save.
Before a conversation begins, Gemini plays an automated message to whoever answers, letting them know they are speaking to an AI, before proceeding based on your prompt. The feature also carries daily usage limits.
Will businesses play along?
Much depends on how businesses respond to these calls. Questions remain over whether firms will be able to prioritise human callers over AI, and what happens if a particular location receives too many AI-generated calls and struggles to reach genuine customers in reasonable time.
Google is restricting the feature from contacting emergency services, but many service-related companies could still face difficulties. It is unclear how the call-for-me feature will handle voicemail recordings or phone wait times, which are common in busy shops and restaurants.
When an employee answers, the interaction remains distinct from speaking with a human, and unexpected contact may cause confusion among staff. Organisations receiving a high volume of AI-generated calls will likely need to introduce new operational guidelines to manage them. Blocking Gemini calls is possible through an opt-out process, though the availability of this option for all companies is not clear.
The real test of the feature will be its transparency as an AI assistant and whether businesses are willing to engage with it. Google’s existing Call Screening and Hold For Me tools already handle related tasks, such as skipping hold music. The latest Google phone is required to access these calling capabilities.
