Google just launched an AI-powered calling feature for local businesses in the US. You can now ask about pricing or availability without making a call yourself.
The feature rolled out in Search after testing since January. It works with select businesses like pet groomers, dry cleaners, and auto shops. Searching for one of these will show a “have AI check pricing” button under the listing.
Google’s AI asks follow-up questions to nail down your request—pet type and breed, needed services, timing, and how you want updates (email or text). Perfect for Gen Z users who avoid phone calls. 
Robby Stein, Google Search’s VP of product, explained the tech uses Duplex with Gemini AI to make calls.
“Gemini, with Duplex tech, will be able to make calls on your behalf,” Stein told The Verge.
“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 call, you get a text update with prices or available times.
Business owners can opt out of AI calls in Google profile settings. AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers get higher usage limits for the feature.
On top of this, Google is testing the more powerful Gemini 2.5 Pro in its AI Mode search tool, available for AI Pro and Ultra users who opt into the AI Mode experiment in Labs. Stein says Gemini 2.5 Pro excels at advanced reasoning, math, and coding queries. AI Mode normally runs on Gemini 2.0 by default.
Google is also experimenting with Deep Search in AI Mode, which builds detailed reports by asking questions and running searches to verify answers. This multi-step reasoning tool is coming soon to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in Google Labs.
