Google Search’s New ‘Ask For Me’ Calls Local Businesses For Availability, Pricing

Following Daily Listen in early January, Google is launching a new Search Lab called “Ask for me.”

Google will use “AI to call businesses on your behalf” when you’re looking for the availability and prices of local services. At launch, this is specifically for services at nail salons and auto repair shops.

When you’re searching for something like “oil change near me,” an “Ask for me” card will appear. It lets you “enter details about the service you’re looking for.”

In the case of mechanics, Google starts by asking what you’re looking for: Factory scheduled maintenance, Oil change, Tire rotation & balancing, Tire replacement, Fuel filter replacement, Cabin filter replacement, Engine filter replacement, etc. 

You then enter details about your car (year, make, model, and mileage), as well as when you need the service: Soonest availability, Weekdays only, or Weekends only.

For a Nail salon request, picking “manicure” will let you drill down into Basic, Dip powder, French, Acrylic, Gel/shellac, Nail art, Nail polish change, etc. 

Google will then call, with a natural-sounding voice, local businesses around you and generate a summary of prices and availability that you’ll get via text message or email after about 30 minutes. This is powered by the Duplex technology already used for placing restaurant reservations, as well as updating business hours in Google Maps. 

Ask for me is currently in the experimental phase and has a waitlist. It is available in the US for English queries.

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