If you’ve ever found yourself dreading a phone call, maybe to a salon, a vet, or a dry cleaner, Google’s newest AI upgrade might just be your new best friend.
In a trending update that’s quietly shaking up how we interact with local businesses, Google Search is now rolling out a new AI-powered feature that will actually make phone calls on your behalf. Yes, you read that right. Google’s AI can now pick up the phone, ask your questions, and get back to you with the answers, no human-to-human conversation needed.
Sounds futuristic? It kind of is. But it’s also very real and already rolling out in the U.S.
So, What’s Actually Happening?
Google has introduced something it calls “agentic capabilities.” It’s a fancy name, but the idea is simple: Google’s AI tools are now smart enough to perform tasks for you, like making calls to businesses to get information.
For example, imagine you’re searching for “pet groomers near me.” You’ll now see a new option that says “Have AI check pricing.” Tap it, and Google will:
- Automatically call nearby pet grooming services
- Ask about availability and pricing
- Collect responses from different places
- Present you with a clean, easy-to-read summary
No more being put on hold. No more awkward back-and-forths. No more calling five places just to compare prices.
Real-World Example: How It Works
Let’s say you’re looking for a last-minute appointment at a dry cleaner.
You type: “Dry cleaners open today near me.”
If this feature is available in your area, you’ll get the option to have Google AI make the call. It dials the business, uses a robo-voice to ask your question, records the answer, and shares the result with you, right inside your search results.
And the best part? You didn’t have to lift a finger (well, except to tap).
Powered by Gemini: Smarter Than Ever
Along with this update, Google is also rolling out its Gemini 2.5 Pro model in AI Mode for paid users.
While the basic AI assistant is great for quick queries, the Pro model is built for more advanced reasoning, handling everything from math and coding to deep problem-solving.
In other words, whether you’re asking Google AI to find a cake shop that delivers or helping you solve a tough programming bug, Gemini is now built to do both.
This gives Google a huge edge in the AI race, where OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Meta’s LLaMA, and Elon Musk’s xAI are all competing for user attention.
What This Means for Users
Phone anxiety is real. More and more people, especially Gen Z and Millennials, are turning away from calls and leaning into chat, search, and now, AI tools.
With this update:
- You no longer need to make uncomfortable or time-consuming calls
- You can gather multiple business quotes at once
- You’ll save time and avoid unnecessary stress
This could be a game-changer for people managing busy schedules, people with social anxiety, or just anyone who prefers things done quickly and silently.
What This Means for Businesses
If you’re a local business owner, whether you’re a cafe, clinic, mechanic, or tutor, expect to get calls from AI voices soon.
Yes, the voice might sound flat or robotic at first. But behind that call is a real potential customer and possibly many more, since AI can contact several businesses at once.
Here’s why this matters:
- Businesses that answer these calls properly could be prioritized in future search summaries.
- Those who don’t pick up or offer vague answers? They might get left out.
- This is not just automation, it’s AI-driven lead generation.
Being AI-ready could become the next major marketing edge in local search.
Big Picture: Quiet Innovation from Google
While competitors make headlines for flashy AI features, Google is playing the long game. By embedding powerful AI directly into Search, the place people already use daily, Google is quietly transforming how we get information and make decisions.
Rather than asking people to download new apps or change behavior, Google is saying: “Just search as usual, we’ll make it easier.”
That’s smart. And it’s very Google.
But Wait, Are There Downsides?
As exciting as all of this sounds, it’s worth thinking about the flip side too.
For starters, not everyone might be comfortable with an AI calling businesses, especially without human interaction. Some users may feel weird knowing a robot is speaking on their behalf, and on the business side, staff may hang up on calls that sound too robotic or scripted.
There’s also the accuracy factor. AI is smart, but it’s not perfect. If a business gives unclear answers or the AI misunderstands something, you might end up with wrong or incomplete info.
And of course, there’s the bigger question, are we becoming too dependent on machines to do basic tasks? It’s super convenient, but some might worry about losing the personal touch, especially in small community businesses.
So, while this is clearly a game-changing innovation, it’s not without its bumps and questions. Like any new tech, it will take some time and feedback, to make it truly useful for everyone.
This is the kind of AI update that blends seamlessly into everyday life and that’s exactly why it matters.
At AdChronicle, we’re always tracking what’s trending now in tech and marketing. And this update?
