Pixel 11’s ‘Call for Me’ sounds amazing… until you get blocked
I hate phone calls. Just like a lot of my fellow Gen Zers, the idea of calling an electrician or rearranging a dentist appointment fills me with dread.
So, when I heard about the Pixel 11 getting a new feature that could eliminate that stress, I was immediately excited.
As 9to5Google reports, Google is reportedly testing ‘Call for Me’ in the US, a feature which would allow its Gemini AI to handle all the hassle for you. For simple tasks such as reservations or changing appointments (why aren’t all of these online yet?!), it would be a game-changer.
In theory, at least. Unfortunately, I strongly believe ‘Call for Me’ will fail the ultimate test: the real world. Here’s why.
A fast track to blocking
The idea of robots handling phone calls for you is nothing new. Indeed, Google demoed a very similar feature known as Google Duplex back in 2018, before sunsetting it four years later.
The new iteration might be powered by its fancy Gemini AI, but it’ll face the exact same pitfalls. Mainly, you’re asking a human being to interact with a stilted robotic AI, no matter how life-like it might sound.
If I were to ask ‘Call for Me’ to rearrange my GP appointment, I wouldn’t begrudge any of the office staff for hanging up the phone immediately. With call scamming rife, hanging up when you hear a robot is often the safest thing to do.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Even if I got the appointment rearranged, I’d feel obliged to reach out myself and explain why that happened. It still feels like we’re a long way off from AI phone calls being routine, and to be honest, I hope it never happens.
In repeat cases, I could imagine many businesses deciding to block my number entirely. Not an ideal result for a feature designed to make my life easier.
The irony is that this hang-up-and-block approach is highly effective for ‘Call Screen’, which is undoubtedly the Pixel’s best calling feature. As soon as most scammers hear “Hi, I’m Call Assist by Google…”, they’re immediately onto their next target.
Costly mistakes
Even if humans got used to being instructed by AI, making arrangements with businesses is rarely as simple as it seems.
An AI like Gemini might have access to your calendar and even pre-arranged availability on the phone, but that doesn’t mean it’ll choose the most appropriate time for your appointment. Then, there’s the very real risk of it not understanding which date has been chosen, especially if there’s lots of back and forth. Many businesses still don’t provide appointment confirmations via text or email.
That’s if you can even get that far. My GP surgery requires my date of birth before making any appointments, while my dentist often takes payment over the phone. Would I trust Gemini with that sensitive information? Absolutely not.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
As a result, most of the routine calls I make would still at least need me to be on hand and jump in where needed. Pixel phones already have ‘Hold for Me’, which avoids me needing to endure obnoxious hold music, but that’s where the AI influence should end.
These privacy concerns, plus Gemini’s admission that it “can make mistakes”, mean I’ll be staying well clear of ‘Call for Me’.
AI can’t cure phone anxiety
As I explored this topic, I couldn’t help thinking that the goal is all wrong. Sure, making these phone calls can be a hassle, but they also force me and many others to step out of our comfort zones. Calling an electrician or rearranging an appointment feels very much like “adulting”, as the kids say.
By outsourcing any small inconvenience like this, we can pretty much guarantee that the next time will be much more anxiety-inducing. Instead, I believe we should work towards becoming more comfortable using the phone when necessary.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
This doesn’t mean enjoying long catch-ups; I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy those, even with close friends and family. But I recognise that they’re still a necessary part of the world we live in. For complex logistics or handling sensitive information, AI tools should be kept as far away as possible.
Even if ‘Call for Me’ arrives in the UK and on more Pixel phones, I’d urge extreme caution.
