I’m not fond of phone calls. Similar to many of my Gen Z peers, the thought of contacting an electrician or rescheduling a dental appointment fills me with anxiety.
Thus, when I learned about the Pixel 11 introducing a new feature that could potentially alleviate that tension, I felt a surge of enthusiasm.
As 9to5Google indicates, Google is said to be trialing ‘Call for Me’ in the US, a functionality that would allow its Gemini AI to manage all the burdens on your behalf. For straightforward tasks like making reservations or adjusting appointments (why aren’t these all online yet?!), it could revolutionize the process.
In theory, anyway. Sadly, I am quite confident that ‘Call for Me’ will not succeed in the ultimate evaluation: the real world. Here’s my reasoning.
A swift route to blocking
The concept of machines managing phone calls on your behalf is not a new one. Indeed, Google showcased a similar capability referred to as Google Duplex back in 2018, prior to discontinuing it four years later.
The latest version may be driven by its sophisticated Gemini AI, but it will encounter the identical challenges. Primarily, you are requesting a human to engage with an awkward robotic AI, regardless of how human-like it may sound.
If I were to instruct ‘Call for Me’ to reschedule my GP appointment, I wouldn’t fault any of the staff for cutting the call short right away. With phone scams prevalent, hanging up upon hearing a robot is often the wisest choice.
Even if I managed to get the appointment rescheduled, I would feel compelled to reach out myself and clarify why that took place. It appears we are still far from AI phone calls becoming commonplace, and honestly, I hope it never occurs.
In recurring situations, I can envision many businesses opting to block my number completely. Not an ideal scenario for a feature aimed at simplifying my life.
The irony is that this hang-up-and-block tactic works remarkably well for ‘Call Screen’, which is undoubtedly the Pixel’s finest calling feature. Once most scammers hear “Hi, I’m Call Assist by Google…”, they swiftly move on to find their next victim.
Expensive errors
Even if people become accustomed to being guided by AI, establishing arrangements with businesses is seldom as straightforward as it appears.
An AI like Gemini may have access to your calendar and even set availabilities over the phone, but that doesn’t guarantee it’ll select the most suitable time for your appointment. Additionally, there’s the genuine risk of it misinterpreting which date has been selected, particularly if there’s a lot of back and forth. Many businesses still do not send appointment confirmations through text or email.
That’s assuming you can even get that far. My GP clinic requires my date of birth before scheduling any appointments, while my dentist often requests payment over the phone. Would I entrust Gemini with that sensitive data? Absolutely not.
Consequently, most of the routine calls I make would still at least require my presence to jump in when needed. Pixel phones already possess ‘Hold for Me’, which spares me from enduring relentless hold music, but that’s where the AI’s influence should conclude.
These privacy issues, combined with Gemini’s acknowledgment that it “can make mistakes”, lead me to steer clear of ‘Call for Me’.
AI can’t alleviate phone anxiety
As I delved into this subject, I found myself convinced that the objective is misguided. Certainly, making these phone calls can be a hassle, but they also push me and many others to exit our comfort zones. Contacting an electrician or rescheduling an appointment resonates deeply with “adulting”, as kids would say.
By outsourcing such minor inconveniences, we can pretty much ensure that the next instance will be considerably more stressful. Instead, I think we should aim to become more at ease utilizing the phone when needed.
This doesn’t imply that I enjoy extended conversations; I doubt I’ll ever relish those, even with close friends and family. However, I acknowledge that they remain an essential aspect of the world we inhabit. For intricate logistics or dealing with sensitive data, AI tools should be kept as distant as possible.
Even if ‘Call for Me’ makes its way to the UK and more Pixel devices, I would advise extreme caution.
Summary
“The Call You Don’t Want to Answer!”: Ultimately, Pixel 11’s ‘Call for Me’ might simply make you prefer the traditional method of making calls yourself. Who could have imagined, right?
