Latest news with #RobbyStein
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Google's AI can now call local businesses on your behalf to check availability, pricing, and other details
Google is bringing back a familiar idea with a new twist, and this time, it's ready for the public. The tech giant has announced a new feature that lets its AI call local businesses for you through Google Search, gathering information like pricing and availability so you don't have to pick up the phone yourself. First tested in January this year, this feature is now rolling out to all users in the US, with broader access for those who subscribe to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra plans. It works with specific types of businesses for now, such as pet groomers, dry cleaners, and auto you search for one of these services, for example, 'pet groomers near me', you will see a new option: 'Have AI check pricing.' After selecting this, Google will ask for extra details like your pet's breed, the service you want, preferred timing, and how you'd like to get updates (either via email or text). Once that's done, the AI will make the call for you and send back the information it is not the first time Google has tried something like this. Back in 2018, at its I/O developer conference, CEO Sundar Pichai had famously demoed Google Duplex – an AI assistant that could make phone calls to book appointments. The demo got mixed reactions, with some people expressing concern that the voice sounded too human and lacked clear disclosure. Google had to put a pause on its plans to rollout the feature. Robby Stein, Google Search's vice president of product, explained to The Verge that the new feature uses a combination of Google's Duplex model and its newer Gemini AI system. 'Gemini, with Duplex tech, will be able to make calls on your behalf,' Stein said, adding that the AI will introduce itself clearly to the business as a Google bot, calling on behalf of a time, the AI introduces itself clearly and sticks to gathering basic service details. Business owners can also opt out of receiving such AI calls in their Google Business Profile this AI calling feature, Google is also testing more advanced capabilities under its Gemini AI programme. This includes Gemini 2.5 Pro, which is now available to users who have opted into 'AI Mode'. This version is built for more complex tasks like coding, maths, and deep research. It also powers 'Deep Search,' a new tool that can dig up in-depth reports by reasoning through multiple queries these advanced features are limited to subscribers, the AI calling tool is free to use but only available in the US. There is currently no information on if and when it will launch in India. However, with the AI Mode's launch in India recently, we can expect the AI Calling tool to make it to India soon too. Google says this is just one of many new 'agentic' features it's working on to make Search more helpful in day-to-day tasks.- Ends
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Google's AI Now Makes Calls and Checks Prices for You
Google is taking another big step in putting artificial intelligence to work for everyday tasks. The tech giant has now made its AI-powered calling feature available to everyone in the US through Search. With this new option, you can ask Google's AI to call local businesses — like pet groomers, auto shops, or dry cleaners — to check prices or availability, so you don't have to pick up the phone yourself. The feature first began testing in January and is aimed at simplifying small but often time-consuming tasks. Now, when you search for certain services on Google, you'll see a 'have AI check pricing' option under the business listing. Once selected, Google's AI will ask you a few details, like your pet's breed or the service you need, your preferred time, and whether you'd like updates by email or text. According to Robby Stein, vice president of product for Google Search, the AI uses Google's Duplex technology combined with Gemini to handle the calls. 'Gemini, with Duplex tech, will be able to make calls on your behalf,' Stein told The Verge. 'The calling tool will announce itself as an AI from Google trying to get information on behalf of a customer and get your info and details conveyed so that you don't have to spend all of this time doing this.' Once the AI gets what it needs, it will send you a text update about prices or available slots. This tool could be especially useful for younger people who, as studies show, often dislike making phone calls. Business owners who prefer not to receive AI calls can easily opt out in their Google profile settings. To manage usage, Google's AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers get 'higher limits' for how often they can use the feature. Alongside this wider rollout, Google is also experimenting with its more advanced Gemini 2.5 Pro model in AI Mode — an AI-powered search tool that launched across the US in May. Users with AI Pro and AI Ultra subscriptions who've joined the AI Mode test in Google Labs can switch to Gemini 2.5 Pro, which Stein says excels at 'advanced reasoning, math, and code.' Google is also testing Deep Search within AI Mode, which can build detailed reports about a query by reasoning, asking additional questions, and double-checking its results through multi-step searches. This deeper layer of AI search is another sign of how Google is expanding its AI ecosystem to save users time and effort in daily tasks.
Phone Arena
5 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Google's "Ask for Me" is ready to call some stores for you to get prices and availability
If you hate calling businesses to make an appointment, you can let AI do it for you. "Ask for Me" is a pretty cool feature, and it is now available in the United States through Google Search. The feature will allow AI to make calls to certain types of retailers, such as auto shops, dry cleaners, and pet groomers. AI will try to find out pricing and availability information for you. To use this feature, go to Search and ask for something like, "Pet groomers near me." A new option will surface in the results that says, "Have AI check pricing" underneath a business listing. Tapping on the button will result in AI asking you for more information about your pet, the kind of services you need, and whether you prefer to receive updates by email or text. Robby Stein, vice president of products for Google Search, says that Google's Duplex model will work with Gemini to make calls. You might recall how Google's Duplex stunned the crowd at Google I/O in 2018 with a video showing how it made dining reservations and other appointments. Stein says, "Gemini, with Duplex tech, will be able to make calls on your behalf. The calling tool will call the business, in this case the groomer, and "announce itself as an AI from Google." After the AI gets the information it needs from the phone call, it will provide an update over text about available times and prices. For the consumer, this saves time by having Gemini make the calls and write down the answers. Businesses save time by having AI book customers for them. Gemini 2.5 Pro can now be used in AI Mode. |=Image credit-PhoneArena You do have to enable the feature on Google Search Labs. Open the Google app and tap on the icon of a beaker in the upper left of the screen. Scroll down to "Ask for Me" and join the waitlist. It is available on Android and iOS. Ask for Me allows you to make certain phone appointments using AI. | Image credit-PhoneArena Business owners can decide to opt out of receiving AI calls if they don't feel comfortable with them. The feature is now available, although Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers will get greater opportunities to use it. Ask for Me uses Gemini, Duplex, and Google Search to make appointments for you. | Image credit-PhoneArena Google is also bringing Gemini 2.5 Pro to AI Mode. This will give you access to Google's most intelligent AI Model right from Search. Gemini 2.5 Pro uses advanced reasoning and is outstanding in providing you with answers to math and coding questions. It will even provide the user with links to help them learn more via a Deep Search. A drop-down menu in the AI Mode tab in Search will help subscribers access Gemini 2.5 Pro. The default model in AI Mode, a custom Gemini 2.0 series model, will still provide fast, all-around assistance for most questions. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
The Verge
6 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Google's AI can now make phone calls for you
Google will now let everyone in the US call local businesses using AI. The feature, which is now available in Search, allows you to use AI for pricing or availability information without having to talk on the phone. Google first started testing this feature in January, and it's still only available for certain kinds of businesses, like pet groomers, dry cleaners, and auto shops. When you search for one of these services, like a pet groomer, Google will display a new 'have AI check pricing' prompt beneath the business listing. Google will then ask you for more information about your request, such as what kind of pet you have, its breed, and the types of services that you need. It will also ask when you need the service and how you want to receive updates, such as email or text. This feature might prove popular among those younger users, whom studies have shown struggle with making phone calls. Robby Stein, Google Search's vice president of product, notes that the company's Gemini model uses Duplex to make calls. 'Gemini, with Duplex tech, will be able to make calls on your behalf,' Stein tells The Verge, adding that the calling tool will 'announce itself as an AI from Google trying to get information on behalf of a customer and get your info and details conveyed so that you don't have to spend all of this time doing this.' After the AI gets the information it needs, it will provide an update over text about available times or prices. Business owners can opt out of receiving AI calls in their profile settings on Google. Though this feature is now generally available, Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers will receive 'higher limits' that allow them to use the feature more. In addition to widely rolling out its agentic calling tool, Google has also started testing its more advanced Gemini 2.5 Pro in AI Mode, the AI-powered search tool that Google brought to everyone in the US in May. AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers who have opted into the AI Mode experiment in Labs can now choose Gemini 2.5 Pro, which Stein says works 'particularly great for advanced reasoning, math, and code.' AI Mode uses a custom Gemini 2.0 series model by default. Google is experimenting with putting its Deep Search feature in AI Mode, as well, allowing users to have AI Mode craft in-depth reports about a query. 'The model is actually reasoning and thinking of questions to ask and Google searches to perform,' Stein says. 'As it's constructing the response, it will actually check its work and issue further questions in this kind of multi-step reasoning chain.' This feature will also be available to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in Google Labs.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Google AI Mode: What it is, how to try it?
Today, Google is celebrating its new "AI Mode" feature with a special Google Doodle. The Doodle – which pops up on Chrome's new tab page across devices – features Google's new gradient logo and directs the search engine's users to its improved AI Mode, one that Google calls its "most powerful AI search." Google first unveiled generative AI search results last year, to some strange results. In 2025, it's been no different, with AI Overviews still struggling to answer basic questions. But the new version of AI-powered search is meant to help users with their "toughest questions." Here's how it works. AI Mode is Google's new search feature that intends to provide direct answers to search queries. The answers are a blend of AI-generated responses with content from around the internet, which is summarized and linked to. The new feature uses Gemini 2.5, a modified version of Google's core AI model. Information gathered by the model is distilled into concise answers. Google AI Mode can take multimodal queries: while searching, users can ask any question using text, voice, or images. Robby Stein, Google's VP of Search, said AI Mode is "particularly helpful for questions that need further exploration, comparisons, and reasoning." "You can ask nuanced questions that might have previously taken multiple searches — like exploring a new concept or comparing detailed options — and get a helpful AI-powered response with links to learn more," said Stein. Google AI Mode is only available widely in the US so far, but is also being tested in India. If you're in the US, you can use the tool now. Users can either: Head over to the Google homepage and select AI Mode, seen on the right-hand side of the search bar. Search directly at: Open the Google app on a mobile device and tap AI Mode on the homescreen. A global rollout for the feature is possibly imminent, though Google hasn't made any announcements yet. Let's see how this new AI-powered search fares.
