- Google’s “Ask for me” tool uses AI to call businesses for service details and availability.
- Currently, the tool is limited to nail salons and auto shops and requires users to opt in.
- If the tool expands to medical offices and customer service lines, it could be a game changer.
Google launched its “Ask for me” tool on Search Labs a little over a month ago, and it’s good news for those who find picking up the phone to call local businesses daunting or time-consuming.
The experimental tool uses AI to call businesses near you to find out how much a service costs and when it’s available. For now, it only works for nail salons and auto shops, and you have to opt in to try it. If Google expands this tool in the future though, it could become an everyday application of agentic AI for consumers.
The experiment is available on desktop and mobile, although I had some trouble getting the tool to work for nail salons on my desktop. The “Ask for me” banner shows up when you search terms like “oil change” or “nail salons near me.”
Once the banner shows up, you can click on “get started” to fill out details about the type of service you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an auto service, it will give you 25 service options. You’ll also have the option to enter your car model and year.
For nail salon requests, Google asks about what kind of nail service you want. Then, it provides nine manicure options, including dip powder or nail art, and four for pedicure. It will also ask if you want extra services like a massage, nail extensions, or dip removal. For both categories, it will ask if you want the soonest availability, or if you’re looking specifically for a week or weekend slot.
Google will confirm it received your request over text or email, depending on your choice. Then, assuming businesses are open, you’ll get a full report on local services offered within about 30 minutes. For those who picked up the call from Google, you’ll see details from the conversation, like the pricing and soonest availability. It will also provide a list of businesses that didn’t pick up the phone.
I sent multiple requests over the last few weeks to test out the tool’s functionality and accuracy. To verify the results, I also contacted the businesses directly to confirm prices, availability, and whether they had actually received a call.
I heard from one of the salon workers that it didn’t sound like a human called — and they were left a little confused. Another salon worker asked if the Google call was spam, although they still picked up and provided the information asked.
There are multiple nail salons in my area, so Google was able to get about five businesses on the line in a 30-minute span. However, if you’re in a more rural area, you might not get as thorough of a report.
For now, I don’t see myself needing to use this service given I rarely go to the nail salon and don’t use a car. That said, I would use this on a regular basis if it expanded its capabilities to call medical offices, insurance companies, customer service lines for store brands, and mailing centers.
If the service expands, some form of identity verification may be needed, along with clearer boundaries about what the AI can inquire about. That said, I’m looking forward to a future where I can hopefully spend less time on the phone asking for basic information.
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