Gemini Can Now Call Businesses for You β No More Waiting on Hold
Google's AI can handle entire phone calls with businesses through a new Pixel 11 feature.
Google has unveiled a new capability for its Gemini AI assistant that allows it to place and manage phone calls with businesses on your behalf, eliminating the frustration of waiting on hold. The feature, debuting on the Pixel 11, marks a significant step forward in AI-powered personal assistance as the technology matures in 2026.
How It Works
Using Gemini's new calling feature, users can instruct the AI to contact a business β whether it's a restaurant, healthcare provider, or utility company β and handle the entire interaction autonomously. The AI can:
- Navigate automated phone menus and wait times
- Communicate with human representatives using natural language
- Retrieve information such as appointment availability, pricing, or order status
- Summarize the call and relay key details back to the user
Building on a Familiar Foundation
This isn't Google's first foray into AI-assisted calling. The company introduced "Call Screen" and "Hold for Me" on earlier Pixel devices, which helped users avoid spam calls and wait times. Gemini's new capability represents a leap forward: rather than simply screening or holding, it now conducts full conversations and completes tasks end-to-end.
Why It Matters in 2026
The announcement reflects a broader industry shift toward autonomous AI agents β systems that don't just answer questions but take action in the real world. As competitors like OpenAI, Apple, and Amazon race to deploy similar agentic features, Google's integration of calling capabilities directly into its flagship hardware gives it a notable edge.
Privacy and transparency remain central concerns, and Google says users retain control over which calls Gemini makes and can review transcripts afterward.
Availability
The feature launches first on the Pixel 11, with broader availability expected across Android devices in the coming months.
via The Verge AI