Google launches a new Search Lab experiment called Ask for me; You can use AI to call businesses on your behalf
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Google product lead Rose Yao yesterday revealed on the X platform that a new experiment called Ask for Me has just launched on Search Labs.
New experiment just launched on Search Labs – you can use AI to call businesses on your behalf to find out what they charge for a service & when it’s available, like an oil change ASAP from nearby mechanics. https://t.co/9rKiRXiXZV
— Rose Yao (@dozenrose) January 30, 2025
This feature is available on both desktop and mobile, but only for users who have opted into its Search Lab experiments. Let’s talk about this new feature in detail.
Google Ask for Me feature
With this feature, you can use AI to call businesses on your behalf to find out what they charge for a service and when it’s available. For example, an oil change ASAP from nearby mechanics. It is revealed that Google is currently testing right now with auto shops and nail salons to see how AI can help you connect with businesses and get things done.
After you provide all the details, AI will then make calls to local businesses on your behalf and send you a summary of prices and availability. However, businesses can choose not to receive automated calls if they wish. Some users may hit a waitlist while trying this feature since capacity is limited during the experiment.
A few years back Google introduced a Duplex feature that helps users make reservation appointments at restaurants within Google Search and Maps. The ask for me feature is using this same underlying Duplex tech.
This Ask for Me feature is said to compete with OpenAI’s Operator which aims to perform tasks on your behalf on the web.