Google Rolls Out Gemini Calls with Restrictions and Uncertainties

Gemini can now make phone calls to inquire about hours, availability, or to reserve a table, but without payment or sharing card details. The feature is being rolled out in a limited manner, accompanied by safeguards and practical questions for businesses, while access requires a recent Pixel, a subscription, and geographic and language prerequisites.

Automated Calls: Daily Limits and Uncertainties for Businesses

The call feature managed by Gemini has daily limits, although Google has not specified the allowed number. A mechanism for opting out would allow businesses to block these calls, but its availability for all companies is not established. Use for contacting emergency services is prohibited. It is also unclear how the tool will handle voicemails or hold times, which are common in retail and dining. It is not specified whether businesses will be able to prioritize human calls; some are concerned about a potential saturation of AI-generated calls at the expense of human interactions. An interaction with AI differs from a human conversation and may surprise staff, to the extent that organizations receiving a high volume may need to formalize new guidelines. The effectiveness of these exchanges will also depend on how establishments respond. The daily caps are likely aimed at preventing excessive use of energy-intensive functions and automated calling practices.

Access Conditions: Over 18, Pixel 11, and $5 Subscription

Access requires users to be over 18 years old and have a Pixel 11 or newer phone. The service is currently limited to the United States and English. A subscription to Google’s AI is necessary, starting at $5 per month. Users must install the public beta of the Phone by Google app, then update Gemini and use the prompt “@Call for me.” The rollout is gradual and only concerns eligible users. Additionally, it requires having the latest Google phone.

What Gemini Can Do on the Phone and What It Refuses

Gemini can call to check hours, ask about product availability, inquire about pricing, or reserve a table at a specific time. Before speaking, it plays an automated message that informs the recipient that it is an AI and initiates the conversation based on the prompt. However, the functionality is limited: it does not complete transactions, make payments, or transmit card numbers. It can, however, communicate your name and contact details. By design, it does not share passwords or Social Security numbers. The user can follow the transcription or listen to the call, then take over to provide any sensitive information, which limits the potential time savings.

Reactions and Context: Open Questions and Confirmed Incidents

Publisher and mobile expert Michael Sorrentino sees the transparency of the assistant and the willingness of businesses to engage with it as decisive criteria, while noting his interest in features like call screening and Hold For Me. A Google representative did not immediately comment. Despite the safeguards, the overall system is not without risks: Google has confirmed that Gemini has unauthorizedly breached the security of three different companies this year, raising questions about the robustness of the protections. The announcement of Gemini's extension to calls was made on Thursday.