Google Enhances Search with AI-Powered Calling and Advanced AI Mode Features

Google rolls out AI-powered business calling feature, brings Gemini 2.5 Pro to AI Mode | TechCrunch

Google is rolling out an agentic AI-powered business calling feature to all users in the United States, the company announced on Wednesday. The tech giant is also enhancing Google Search's AI Mode by bringing its Gemini 2.5 Pro model to the search experience and introducing deep research capabilities. The new business calling feature uses AI to call local businesses on your behalf to collect information about availability and pricing. The idea behind the feature is to help you access information without having to actually pick up the phone and talk to someone. Google first began testing the feature back in January with users who opted into the company's Search Labs experiments. To get started, you need to search for something like "pet groomers near me," and you'll see a new option in the results to "Have AI check pricing." From there, you answer a couple of questions to receive information about appointments and services from different local businesses. For example, you will be asked what type of pet you have, what services you need, and when you need the service. A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch in an email that every call to a business begins by announcing that it's an automated system calling from Google on behalf of a user. It's worth noting that Google faced backlash a few years ago for a similar business-calling feature that simulated human speech, as some users were concerned that the company was misleading people into thinking they were speaking with another human. Following the backlash, Google said its AI would identify itself as a robot when placing these calls. The new business calling feature is starting to roll out to all Search users in the United States, with higher limits for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Google is also supercharging AI Mode, the Google Search feature that lets you ask complex and multi-part questions via an AI interface, with Gemini 2.5 Pro for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. The tech giant says the model excels at advanced reasoning, math, and coding questions. Subscribers will be able to select the 2.5 Pro model from a drop-down menu in AI Mode. As for the new "Deep Search" feature in AI Mode, Google says it will save subscribers hours by conducting hundreds of searches and issuing reasoning across differing pieces of information to create a comprehensive and fully-cited report in minutes. Google notes that Deep Search is useful for in-depth research related to jobs, hobbies, or studies. The company says it's also useful in instances where you're making big life decisions, like buying a new house or seeking assistance with a financial analysis. Since its launch earlier this year, Google has been building out AI Mode with additional capabilities as it continues to take on popular services like Perplexity AI and OpenAI's ChatGPT Search. For example, Google last month rolled out the ability to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with AI Mode. In May, Google introduced a shopping experience in AI Mode to allow you to view product visuals and other AI-powered guidance that leverages product data.

Google's AI can now make phone calls for you

Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. 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.

That's Not a Human: Google Search Can Now Make Phone Calls To Businesses

The company is offering the AI feature through Google Search to help users find out pricing and availability at local businesses, a like a pet groomer, without needing to pick up the phone. Need to check a local shop's prices or availability? Normally, you'd have to call. But now, Google's search engine can do it for you by harnessing AI to place the call and retrieve the information. On Wednesday, the company announced it was adding the "AI-powered calling" feature directly into Google Search by featuring it as an option through the search results. "From pet grooming to dry cleaning needs, Search can now call businesses to get pricing and availability information on your behalf -- without you needing to pick up the phone," the tech giant said. The company actually debuted the capability as Duplex back in 2018 for Google Assistant. It's now bringing the feature to Search as a button called "Have AI check pricing" when you query for a certain business service around you. If you click the button, Google's AI can not only call one local business, but several, and compare the results, giving you a comprehensive list covering pricing and availability, depending on your request. In addition, Google's AI can call restaurants about wait times for a table. The goal is to help consumers save energy and time while "creating new opportunities for businesses to easily book customers." "This capability is now starting to roll out to all Search users in the US, with higher limits for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers," the company added. Despite the benefit to users, the technology might become a nuisance for businesses, especially if they're bombarded with Google AI calls. However, the company has created a support page, which includes information on how businesses can opt out by going to their Google Business page. The support page also notes: "When you get a phone call from Google, you can tell us that you don't want to receive any more calls. For example, you can say: 'Please remove my business from your list.'" In the past, some businesses have reported positive interactions with Google's phone calling AI, noting it sounded human while using easy-to-understand English in a polite manner. But in other cases, businesses have ignored the AI-powered calls since no caller ID appeared. In the meantime, Google says its AI will avoid calling businesses during late night and early morning hours. All the automated calls are recorded for "quality assurance." The company's support page also notes the feature is becoming available across the US except in five US states: Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska.

Google expands AI Mode with extra features for search

Google is continuing to double down on its AI Mode, bringing more features to its dedicated Search chatbot. Today, the company is the Gemini 2.5 Pro model and the Deep Search capability to AI Mode. These features will be available to Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers. Although both of these tools can still be accessed through other means, Google's move to incorporate them into the chatbot points to an end goal of AI Mode being the primary form of engagement with the company's signature search service. These developments are follow-ups to announcements made during Google's I/O conference this spring. AI Mode began to all Google users in May, and Deep Think was also as an option for the Gemini 2.5 Pro model at that time. Another AI tool teased at I/O was the ability for Gemini to place phone calls with . This agentic option is also coming in a limited form to AI Mode. For starters, it will only be able to contact local businesses and its topics will be limited to inquiring about availability and pricing. When a person searches for companies or services, they may see an option such as "Have AI check prices" that will initiate a call to that business. These AI phone calls are rolling out today to all Search users, but Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers will have higher limits.

Google Search's new feature lets AI call businesses for you

Gemini 2.5 Pro is coming to AI Mode starting today, while Deep Research will start rolling out this week. The AI model and search feature will only be available to AI Pro or AI Ultra subscribers who have opted into the AI Mode experiment in Labs. However, free Search users aren't being completely left out in the cold. Google also announced that it's integrating a new agentic capability into Search. This agentic capability will allow any Search user to use AI to call businesses without having to pick up a phone. Through this AI calling feature, you'll be able to get pricing and availability information from said business. All you have to do is search for something like "pet groomers near me" and there will be a "Have AI check pricing" option in the results.

Google's AI can now call businesses when you just can't be bothered

To kick off 2025, Google launched an early Search Labs experiment that is essentially a convenience seeker's dream. 'Ask for me,' as Google revealed back then, is a feature that uses AI to call businesses on your behalf. The AI can then probe for price quotes, availability of services, and timeslots, all while using a natural-sounding voice. Related Google's 'Ask for me' AI calls businesses so you don't have to Let Google Search do the talking Posts 2 Initially limited to users that went out of their way to enable the experimental feature, 'Ask for me,' which isn't the feature's official name for what it's worth, is now rolling out to all Search users in the US. The feature doesn't seem to have an official name. On Search, it appears as a 'Have AI check pricing,' which could be a little misnomer, especially since the tool can do a lot more like booking appointments, checking restaurant wait times, confirming the availability of specific services, and more. In its early Search Labs days, the feature was limited to nail salons and auto repair shops. According to Google's announcement today, it seems like restaurants, pet grooming, and dry cleaning businesses have been added to the mix. Usage limits apply When you search for one of the aforementioned services, Google will now highlight a 'Have AI check pricing' for me pill with Gemini's logo. Google will then pose relevant questions to gain an understanding of your needs. For example, if you tap on the button after searching for pet groomers near you, Google will ask you what type of pet you have, its breed and weight, what services you need, when you need the service, your location, and how you want to receive relevant updates. Once the AI is done calling businesses, you'll receive an email, SMS, or both (depending on what you selected) with information on local businesses and what they said during the automated call. The same screen contains said businesses' phone number, email, and website, making it seamless to personally call back or research further. Businesses have complete freedom to opt out of receiving automated calls by changing their Business Profile settings. Google also alluded that the functionality will come with limits, though it didn't specify any. According to Google, AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers will get higher limits, suggesting that free users might encounter a daily cap if they utilize the functionality multiple times per day.

Google AI Mode adds 2.5 Pro & Deep Search for subscribers, agentic AI calling for all

Following the announcement at I/O 2025 in May, Google is rolling out Deep Search to AI Mode, as well as letting subscribers access 2.5 Pro. Free users will get access to AI calling in Google Search. Google AI Pro and AI Ultra members in the US can now access Gemini 2.5 Pro in AI Mode for more complex "Reasoning, math & code" queries. There will be a new model picker to switch between the "Default" model, which is a custom version in the Gemini 2 family that's meant for "fast, all-around assistance on most questions." The previously-announced Deep Search, which uses Gemini 2.5 Pro, is also rolling out to US subscribers. Available first on desktop web, you can ask more sophisticated queries and get back longer, more detailed responses after a few minutes. Behind-the-scenes, Google will issue "hundreds of searches" and reason "across disparate pieces of information" to generate a "comprehensive, fully-cited report." Deep Search can also ask for more details before starting the research process. Deep Search is especially useful for in-depth research related to your job, hobbies, or studies. It's also a valuable tool when making big life decisions, like purchasing a new house or needing assistance with financial analysis. Paying AI Mode customers will be the first to get access, with Google seeing Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Search as frontier capabilities that do have costs to them. The goal is to bring it to as many people as possible. Make sure you have the existing AI Mode experiment in Labs enabled to get these features as they roll out this week. Like the Gemini app, AI Ultra subscribers will see the highest usage limits. As for broader intentional availability, Google today says: ...we look forward to continuing to bring advanced capabilities in Search to all our users globally. Meanwhile, Google is launching agentic capabilities that let Search call businesses to get pricing and availability details on your behalf. This is rolling out now in the US. To get started, search for something like "pet groomers near me" and you'll see a new option in the results to "Have AI check pricing." You then answer a questionnaire on Google Search: It's powered by both Gemini models and Duplex technology. This was previously tested in Labs as "Ask for me," and is now rolling out to all Search users in the US, with higher limits for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. With this new experience, businesses are always in control via their Business Profile settings. Read more here.

Google just added AI-powered phone calls to Search -- here's how it works

These updates, available first to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, are part of a broader effort to make Search feel less like a search box and more like a smart assistant that actually gets things done. Starting today (July 16), subscribers can switch to Gemini 2.5 Pro inside AI Mode in Search. It's Google's most capable model to date, offering stronger performance on reasoning, coding and math-related tasks. You'll find it in a new drop-down menu under the AI tab, though the default model is still available for everyday queries. Alongside that, Deep Search is making its debut; a feature designed to handle heavier research requests by issuing hundreds of background searches, pulling from across the web and summarizing the findings in a fully cited report. Google says it's ideal for anything from major life decisions (like buying a home) to detailed work or school projects. Both tools are rolling out to Labs users in the U.S. who have opted into AI Mode with a Pro or Ultra subscription. One of the more interesting features now hitting Search is an agent-like experience that lets Google's AI call businesses for you. If you search for something like "pet groomers near me," you might see a new option: "Have AI check for availability." Submit your request, and Google's assistant will call around to gather availability and pricing info, then summarize what it finds, no phone call required on your end. The feature is starting to roll out to all U.S. users, though subscribers will get higher usage limits. Businesses, meanwhile, stay in control through their Business Profile settings. These upgrades continue Google's trend of shifting Search from a static tool to something much more proactive, and now even agentic. Search now goes beyond answering questions to giving users the option for AI to handle full tasks, from research to real-world interactions. While most of these features are paywalled for now, they offer a clear look at where Google thinks AI is headed: deeply personalized, action-driven and built right into your everyday search experience.

Hate Making Phone Calls? Google's AI Will Make Them for You - Decrypt

Both tools are part of Google's AI Mode and are available in the U.S. through Google Labs with expanded access for paid subscribers. Google launched a new AI-powered feature in Search on Wednesday that can call local businesses, check prices and availability, and report back -- all without the user ever having to make a phone call. "Search now has the agentic capability to call local businesses using AI to check on prices and availability, saving you the hassle of tracking down information yourself," VP of Google Search Robby Stein wrote on X. "This is rolling out in the U.S., with increased access for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Makes it much easier to cross "dry cleaning" off my to-do list." The new AI call feature builds on Google's Duplex, a conversational AI launched in 2018 that makes phone calls on a user's behalf. It uses speech recognition and context to talk naturally with businesses, then summarizes the results using AI. "We may share your first and last name with the business being contacted, and we let users know this on the confirmation screen before they submit a request," a Google spokesperson told Decrypt. "This helps businesses recognize that real potential customers are behind these calls and makes it easier for them to serve those users." In addition to the business-calling feature, Google is rolling out a new Deep Search tool powered by its Gemini 2.5 Pro model. The features are part of Google's shift toward artificial intelligence and AI agents designed not just to answer questions but to act on the user's behalf. In May, during its annual Google I/O event, Google unveiled a range of new AI features, including Veo 3, Imagen 4, and Gemini Diffusion, for its flagship AI product, Gemini. That same month, Google launched the AI Edge Gallery, a platform for distributing on-device AI models to smartphones. However, as AI becomes increasingly capable, experts warn about the amount of data it requires to function and the hidden costs associated with agentic AI taking on more personal tasks. "My concern is whether we're applying the right level of oversight to the higher-risk use cases," co-founder and CEO of AI risk management company, Monitaur AI, Anthony Habayeb, told Decrypt. "And with agentic AI systems that act on your behalf, the risks compound." He pointed to the growing use of AI tools that handle sensitive data -- like calendars, contacts, and credit cards -- as an example of how misuse or failure can escalate quickly when governance, especially in the event of a system oversight, is lacking. According to Google, businesses contacted through the feature retain control over how they are reached and what information is shared, using settings in their Google Business Profile, including the option to opt out of automated calls. While Google said businesses only received a user's name, not their contact details, the feature still raised concerns about data sharing. "Everyone wants efficiency -- no one likes being on hold with a restaurant or searching for a barber while traveling," Habayeb said. "Consumers need to determine their risk appetite," Habayeb added. "Some will accept the convenience and data trade-offs; others won't. What matters most is transparency and letting the market decide from there."

Google Adds AI-Powered Local Business Calling to Search | PYMNTS.com

The agentic AI tool, which is being rolled out in 45 U.S. states, is designed to help users accomplish tasks faster by eliminating the need for them to make routine phone calls themselves. "To help you get even more done, we're now bringing a new, agentic capability directly into Search: AI-powered calling to local businesses," Robby Stein, vice president of product, Google Search, wrote in a Wednesday (July 16) company blog post. "From pet grooming to dry cleaning needs, Search can now call businesses to get pricing and availability information on your behalf -- without you needing to pick up the phone." The automated call feature is rolling out to users and businesses in the United States -- except in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana and Nebraska, according to a support page. To use automated calling, users start by searching for local businesses such as "pet groomers near me," the blog post said. Once Google displays the results, a horizontal bar appears above the list labeled, "Have AI check pricing." Google will avoid calling a business late at night or early in the morning, per the support page. Calls will be monitored and recorded for quality control. Moreover, local businesses that do not wish to receive automated calls from Google Search can opt out.

Too busy to compare? Google's AI can now call shops and check prices for you, here's how

This means you no longer have to pick up the phone to ask about prices or check appointment availability. Google has announced a new feature that lets its AI make calls to local businesses on your behalf, all through Search. This means you no longer have to pick up the phone to ask about prices or check appointment availability. Whether you're looking for a pet groomer or a nearby dry cleaner, Google Search can now do the calling for you and gather the details. When you search for services like "pet groomers near me," you'll see an option that says "Have AI check pricing." From there, you can submit your request, and Search will handle the rest, like gathering details about appointments and services from various businesses to give you a list of options. It saves you time and helps businesses connect with new customers more efficiently. This calling tool is available to users in the US, but only to those subscribed to Google AI Pro or AI Ultra plans. Also read: Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 series, Watch 4 and more to launch on August 20 At the same time, Google is also expanding access to its "most intelligent AI" model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, directly inside Search through the AI Mode. According to the tech giant, Gemini 2.5 Pro "excels at advanced reasoning, math and coding questions, helping you with your complex queries with links to learn more." If you're subscribed to Google AI Pro or AI Ultra, you can now choose Gemini 2.5 Pro from a drop-down menu in AI Mode. Google is also bringing deep research capabilities into AI Mode through Deep Search with the Gemini 2.5 Pro model. "Deep Search is especially useful for in-depth research related to your job, hobbies, or studies. It's also a valuable tool when making big life decisions, like purchasing a new house or needing assistance with financial analysis," the tech giant explained in a blogpost. Also read: Google AI summaries hit discover feed, raises alarms over publisher traffic loss Both Deep Search and Gemini 2.5 Pro are currently rolling out to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US who are part of the AI Mode experiment in Labs.