
Ever wished you had someone to take care of those frustrating phone calls? You know the ones—endless automated menus, long hold times, and repeating yourself over and over. Well, Google is working on making that a thing of the past with its latest innovation: “Ask for Me.”
Imagine this: You’re searching online for a nail salon to book a much-needed manicure. You find one that looks great, but there’s no clear info on pricing or availability.
Instead of dialing the number and playing the waiting game, a new option appears: “Ask for Me.” Curious, you tap it.
Just like that, Google steps in as your personal assistant. It asks a few quick questions: What service do you need? Gel nails? Acrylics? A classic French manicure? Then it checks when you’d like to book—morning, afternoon, or evening? Once you provide the details, the real magic happens: Google actually calls the salon for you!
This feature is powered by Google’s advanced AI-calling technology, similar to its Duplex system, which can already book restaurant reservations and salon appointments.
But Ask for Me goes even further—it doesn’t just make the call, it acts as your personal representative, gathering the details you need while you sit back and relax.
Right now, Google is testing this with nail salons and auto repair shops. So, if your car needs an oil change or tire rotation, all you have to do is tell Google your car’s model and preferred time, and it will handle the initial inquiry for you.
Of course, Google isn’t making these calls without your permission. Before reaching out, it will ask for your email or phone number so the business can get back to you with the information you need. You’ll also get status updates from Google to keep you in the loop.
Now, you might be wondering: “Won’t businesses find it weird to get a call from an AI?” That’s a fair concern, and Google has taken steps to ensure it’s not disruptive.
First, every call begins with a clear introduction, letting the business know it’s an automated system calling on behalf of a customer—no disguises, no pretending to be human.
Second, businesses can opt out of receiving AI-generated calls. They can adjust their Google Business Profile settings or simply ask Google not to contact them during one of these calls.
Google’s goal is to make this a helpful tool for both customers and businesses, not a nuisance. To avoid overwhelming businesses, Google has set call limits, ensuring companies don’t receive an excessive number of automated calls.
They’re also being cautious about data privacy—any information collected is handled ethically and responsibly and is used to improve the system to better assist users in the future.
Of course, there may still be some initial confusion when a salon receptionist or mechanic picks up the phone and hears an AI voice. But as this kind of technology becomes more common, those surprises should fade over time.
Ask for Me is still in its early testing phase, but it could transform how we communicate with businesses. It has the potential to save us time, eliminate hassle, and help businesses manage customer inquiries more efficiently.
Think of it like having a personal assistant on standby, ready to handle the calls you’d rather avoid. And as AI continues to evolve, who knows what other everyday tasks we’ll soon be able to delegate to our digital helpers?