Google expands AI capabilities with business-calling tool

Google is significantly advancing its artificial intelligence offerings with the rollout of a new AI-powered business-calling feature and the integration of its Gemini 2.5 Pro model into Search’s AI Mode. These updates, announced Wednesday, represent Google’s continued push to reshape everyday online experiences with intelligent automation and conversational tools.

The newly released business-calling feature, now available to all users in the United States, leverages AI to contact local businesses on a user's behalf. Whether you're looking to schedule a haircut, inquire about the cost of grooming services, or check availability for a car repair appointment, the AI will handle the conversation and return with relevant information—saving users from the often time-consuming task of calling multiple businesses themselves.

Users activate the feature by searching for services like “pet groomers near me” on Google. In the search results, a prompt will appear offering to “Have AI check pricing.” From there, users answer a short series of questions about their needs, such as the type of pet they have, preferred timing, or specific services required. The AI then places a call to local businesses, introduces itself as an automated Google system representing a user, and gathers the requested details.

Google emphasizes that transparency is a core part of the process. According to a company spokesperson, the AI system always identifies itself at the start of a call. This decision likely stems from past criticism directed at Google’s earlier Duplex technology, which was introduced several years ago. That system drew controversy for mimicking human speech in a way that some felt was deceptive. In response, Google committed to making future AI interactions more transparent, a principle that continues with this new rollout.

The business-calling tool will be available for all U.S. users of Google Search, although those subscribed to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra plans will benefit from higher usage limits. These subscription tiers are part of Google’s broader AI services strategy and offer enhanced capabilities to users seeking advanced tools for research and productivity.

Alongside the business-calling launch, Google is also expanding the capabilities of AI Mode within Google Search. The company is integrating its Gemini 2.5 Pro model into the experience, bringing a significant boost in reasoning, coding, and mathematical analysis. Available to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, Gemini 2.5 Pro can be selected from a drop-down menu within AI Mode, enabling users to tap into more sophisticated problem-solving tools than previously possible.

Gemini 2.5 Pro is designed to handle complex and multi-step questions with greater depth. Google says the model excels in areas like programming assistance, technical explanations, and analytical tasks. Its inclusion in AI Mode is part of a larger effort to compete with rising AI-driven platforms such as Perplexity AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search.

Another key addition is the introduction of “Deep Search,” a new feature within AI Mode aimed at users conducting in-depth research. By automatically performing hundreds of searches and aggregating information from a variety of sources, Deep Search can generate fully cited, detailed reports in just a few minutes. Google describes it as a powerful tool for anyone conducting serious research—whether it's for career planning, academic projects, personal hobbies, or financial decision-making.

Deep Search is especially useful for scenarios where understanding requires synthesis across diverse data points. Whether you're evaluating which car to buy, comparing mortgage options, or exploring investment strategies, the tool is designed to streamline the process by handling the bulk of research and cross-referencing on your behalf.

This expansion of AI Mode follows a series of enhancements throughout the year. In May, Google introduced a shopping experience within AI Mode that includes product imagery and AI-generated buying recommendations. More recently, it added the ability to carry out voice-based interactions, offering a more natural and conversational experience for users seeking real-time guidance.

These developments reinforce Google’s strategy to embed generative AI deeper into its ecosystem, blurring the lines between traditional search functions and personalized digital assistants. With new tools that make it easier to interact with businesses, analyze complex topics, and perform time-consuming research, Google is positioning itself to redefine how users interact with online information.

As Google continues to iterate on AI Mode and expand access to its most advanced models, users can expect more features that move beyond passive querying and into the realm of active task execution—a shift that reflects the broader transformation underway in the AI space.