Google Trials Gemini Feature That Can Phone Businesses on a User's Behalf

Google is testing a new capability that lets its Gemini assistant place calls to businesses on a user's behalf. According to the company, the AI-driven calling tool is initially available only to people in the United States who own a Pixel 11 and subscribe to a paid Gemini plan.

What the feature does

The tool, called "Call for Me," is an early experiment. Users can ask Gemini to handle routine tasks like checking if a store has an item in stock, making a restaurant reservation, rescheduling an appointment, or placing something on hold.

Gemini places the call using the user's own phone number, introduces itself, navigates automated menus, waits on hold, and handles the conversation with whoever answers. Users can follow along through a live transcript and take over the call at any point if needed.

The feature builds on Google's existing tools like Hold for Me and Direct My Call, but goes further by managing the entire conversation rather than just waiting on hold or helping navigate menus.

Who can try it

Access is tightly restricted for now. You need a Pixel 11, a paid Gemini subscription, enrollment in the Phone by Google Public Beta, and you must be in the United States. Google has not announced when or if this will expand to older Pixel models, other Android devices, or additional countries.

My perspective

What I find interesting here is that Google is being unusually cautious. The company is calling this an "experiment" and limiting it to a narrow group of users. That restraint makes sense. Real-world phone conversations are unpredictable, and the person on the other end never agreed to talk to an AI.

The live transcript and takeover controls are smart design choices. They give users a safety net without pretending the technology is more reliable than it is. But the feature also raises questions Google has not fully answered. How will businesses feel about receiving calls from AI assistants? What happens when Gemini misunderstands something? And who is responsible if a booking goes wrong?

I think this is a glimpse of where things are heading. AI assistants are moving from answering our questions to acting on our behalf. That shift is significant, and it deserves more public discussion than a quiet beta rollout.