If you own a Pixel 11, Google is introducing a way to let its Gemini assistant handle routine phone calls to businesses on your behalf. Starting now, Gemini can place calls to stores, restaurants, salons, and other local businesses, manage on‑call interactions, and complete simple tasks — all using your Pixel phone.
Many people have wasted hours on the phone dealing with automated menus and hold music. Google has highlighted how much time this costs: when it launched its Hold for Me feature, the company noted that Americans spent millions of hours on hold with businesses each week. Gemini’s calling capability aims to reduce that friction by taking over short, clearly defined phone tasks so you don’t have to.
How Gemini handles the call for you
Using the feature begins with a straightforward request in the Gemini app on your Pixel. Typical examples include checking whether a nearby hardware store has a specific part in stock, changing a haircut appointment to a different day, or confirming a business’s hours. You tell Gemini what you need, and it places the call to the business and conducts the interaction.
Gemini can navigate automated phone systems, wait on hold, and speak with the person who answers. Unlike earlier Pixel features that only waited on hold or read phone menu options aloud, this capability allows Gemini to carry the actual conversation and complete a task for you. Throughout the call, a live transcript updates in real time so you can follow along and confirm what’s being said.
You are not locked out of the process. At any time during the call you can jump in and take control, interrupting Gemini and speaking directly with the business. This makes it easy to correct course or handle anything the assistant can’t resolve. Google has emphasized that it is starting cautiously because phone conversations vary widely and can become complicated quickly, and the company also wants to be considerate of the time of business staff who answer these calls.
Context and past attempts
This approach is an evolution of prior efforts. Several years ago, Google introduced Duplex, an assistant that could call restaurants and salons to make reservations or appointments. Duplex demonstrated how an assistant could complete real-world tasks by phone, and it prompted discussions about transparency because of how natural the assistant sounded. Google’s policy at the time and since has been to make it clear that the caller is speaking with a virtual assistant rather than a human.
Gemini has been expanded to handle other kinds of errands as well. In recent updates, the assistant gained the ability to place orders and book rides through supported apps on Pixel devices, handling in-app interactions to make everyday tasks faster and more convenient. The calling feature extends this pattern, moving from in-app automation to real-world voice conversations when that’s the best way to get a job done.
Availability and requirements
At launch the calling capability is limited to an early preview and requires specific conditions to participate. You must have a Pixel 11 and be located in the United States. A paid Gemini subscription is also required, and you need to enroll in the public test version of Google’s Phone app to access the feature. Google has opened the capability to a small group of users first, so it can monitor performance and refine the experience before a broader rollout.
If you qualify for the preview, the process is straightforward: enable the public test version of the Phone app, subscribe to the appropriate Gemini tier, and use the Gemini app to initiate calls. During calls you will see a live transcript and can choose to intervene if you prefer to speak directly with the person on the other end. This gives users flexibility and oversight while the assistant handles routine tasks.
Overall, the new Gemini calling feature is designed to reduce the time you spend on common phone chores and make short interactions with businesses more efficient. By automating straightforward requests and allowing you to monitor and take over when needed, the feature aims to strike a balance between convenience and control as Google refines conversational assistants for practical, real‑world use.