Google's New 'Ask for Me' Search Feature Uses AI to Make Calls

[I7guy]

It is not designed to negotiate for you, it is a price comparison tool.

What it does

1. Call businesses to find out if they offer X service
2. Asks for price
3. Ask for availability
4. It then sends you the information for you to decide what business to go with

For my use case, it called 6 auto shops and found 2 that were within my budget and i didn't have to spend 1hr making calls.

What it DOES NOT do

1. Negotiate for you
2. Make reservations for you



There is already a feature that does that.


It is literally a price comparison tool that helps you research without having to spend hours on the phone. I'd rather not spend 1 to 2 hours to call several business to find out prices. That's time i can spend on something else. If you are too stupid to see the usefulness of that then don't use it.... that's where I differ.

I don’t care if this worked for you or not. I can see a future where business owners are spammed with ai phone calls and each business owner will have to decide whether to treat these calls as spam.

Part of a what a business owner does is sell a service and to me neither auto body or nail salons are commoditized.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

I can see a future where business owners are spammed with ai phone calls and each business owner will have to decide whether to treat these calls as spam.

Glad you can see the future but in the real world google has had these sorts of automated features since 2018. The service called 6 auto body shops in less than 20 minutes and none of them hung up that tells me that those businesses didn't see it as spam even when the service starts by introducing itself as an automated call from google.

If a business decides they don't want to allow those calls, they have options available to opt out. They have had the option for years in google business page to disallow calls from google assistant services.

Part of a what a business owner does is sell a service and to me neither auto body or nail salons are commoditized.

Auto shops and nail salons are commoditized services. An oil change from Valvoline is the same at Jiffy Lube, the difference is the price. A pedicure at X is "similar" to a pedicure at Y, the difference is price. Speaking as someone who regularly gets those services.

 

[I7guy]

Glad you can see the future but in the real world google has had these sorts of automated features since 2018. The service called 6 auto body shops in less than 20 minutes and none of them hung up that tells me that those businesses didn't see it as spam even when the service starts by introducing itself as an automated call from google.

A sample size of 6? That’s some strong anecdotal evidence to refute an opinion.

If a business decides they don't want to allow those calls, they have options available to opt out. They have had the option for years in google business page to disallow calls from google assistant services.

It’s been claimed on MR that people don’t know how to change the default search engine. Extending that logic to the real world would indicate many business owners might not want to take the time or effort to block automate calls.

Auto shops and nail salons are commoditized services.

Nail salons have a loyal following. Ask anyone who frequents them. It’s about the operator and not the price. Sure some may not care, but it’s a personalized business even though the business itself is a commodity. the same as hair dressers and barbers.

An oil change from Valvoline is the same at Jiffy Lube, the difference is the price.

No the difference is the service you get. Some may not care and some may care. I was reminded of that when I brought my car into one of these places for an tire rotate and they scratched my $1,500 rim.

A pedicure at X is "similar" to a pedicure at Y, the difference is price. Speaking as someone who regularly gets those services.

No this is a personalized service even though the business is a commodity. Again some may not care about the operator, but anecdotally many do.

So tying this all together these calls rob the business owners of the capacity to sell their service, which is why I believe many owners view these calls as spam. In my area many of these personalized services are always very busy and why waste the owners time.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

A sample size of 6? That’s some strong anecdotal evidence to refute an opinion.

A sample size of 6 is more than you have to base your conjecture on that business would see it as spam.

It’s been claimed on MR that people don’t know how to change the default search engine. Extending that logic to the real world would indicate many business owners might not want to take the time or effort to block automate calls.

Your logic make no sense. A business should know how to update their business profile on google if they want to have correct and updated information on google maps and search.

Nail salons have a loyal following. Ask anyone who frequents them. It’s about the operator and not the price. Sure some may not care, but it’s a personalized business even though the business itself is a commodity. the same as hair dressers and barbers.

So why claim Auto shops and nail salons are not commoditized? I don't care who does my oil change, I care that i can afford it. I don't care who does my manicure and pedicure, I go to the same location and they schedule one of their pedi/manicurist to do it.

No the difference is the service you get. Some may not care and some may care. I was reminded of that when I brought my car into one of these places for an tire rotate and they scratched my $1,500 rim.

Scratching your rim is not part of tire rotation. That speaks of competency or lack thereof.

No this is a personalized service even though the business is a commodity. Again some may not care about the operator, but anecdotally many do.

They are commoditized services regardless of if you are a repeat customer because you like their services. I go to the same restaurants often because i like their food, i go to the same grocery stores because they are close and affordable, but it doesn't change that they offer commoditized goods and services i can get anywhere.

So tying this all together these calls rob the business owners of the capacity to sell their service, which is why I believe many owners view these calls as spam. In my area many of these personalized services are always very busy and why waste the owners time.

Provide your evidence. I provided 6 more than you have.

 

[I7guy]

A sample size of 6 is more than you have to base your conjecture on that business would see it as spam.

No matter how you slice it anecdotal evidence is not a fact it’s still an opinion.

Your logic make no sense. A business should know how to update their business profile on google if they want to have correct and updated information on google maps and search.

While It makes a lot sense. Again one opinion chasing another.

So why claim Auto shops and nail salons are not commoditized?

I didn’t discuss auto shops, did I? Although there are clearly varying degrees of quality done by different auto shops. Unless an auto shop is dying for business, why not speak to the customer to sell their product.

I don't care who does my oil change,

I do.

I care that i can afford it.

I care it’s done right and reliably.

I don't care who does my manicure and pedicure, I go to the same location and they schedule one of their pedi/manicurist to do it.

I do care.

Scratching your rim is not part of tire rotation. That speaks of competency or lack thereof.

Speaks of something ai doesn’t know.

They are commoditized services regardless of if you are a repeat customer because you like their services. I go to the same restaurants often because i like their food, i go to the same grocery stores because they are close and affordable, but it doesn't change that they offer commoditized goods and services i can get anywhere.

Provide your evidence. I provided 6 more than you have.

Prove your evidence. All you offered above is opinions. And it’s clear from your posts you don’t care about seeking quality, which is certainly your prerogative. But those business who sell commoditized personal services might care about selling their business to the potential customer. And hence why they would imo reject spam calls.

 

[Dave.UK]

Yet if Apple announced something like this it would be classed as pure innovation and a great time saver.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

No matter how you slice it anecdotal evidence is not a fact it’s still an opinion.

No sh*t? We are all offering opinions but i use actual example to back up my assertions, you have done none.

While It makes a lot sense. Again one opinion chasing another.

Of course it makes sense, any business who wants accurate information on google maps and google search should know how to update their google business profile.

I didn’t discuss auto shops, did I? Although there are clearly varying degrees of quality done by different auto shops. Unless an auto shop is dying for business, why not speak to the customer to sell their product.

Are autobody shops not a type of auto shop? Do they not offer same services which is working on the body of vehicles?

I do.

Good for you. I don't care who does it as long it is affordable and done well.

I care it’s done right and reliably.

Everyone cares that its done right and reliably.

I do care.

I don't care who does it as long as the service is to my liking.

Speaks of something ai doesn’t know.

Yes I'm sure they will inform you that they scratch rims as part of the service when you as a human calls them.

Prove your evidence.

Provide your evidence.

All you offered above is opinions.

I provided 6 examples, you provided none.

And it’s clear from your posts you don’t care about seeking quality, which is certainly your prerogative.

Making baseless claims.

But those business who sell commoditized personal services might care about selling their business to the potential customer. And hence why they would imo reject spam calls.

Provide your evidence that they will reject calls from this specific services because they see it as spam.

 

[Just_Kevin]

The only thing I miss from having a Pixel phone was having Google Assistant answer and screen calls for me. I really want that on iPhone.

I don’t think I would use this feature though.

 

[Makosuke]

Part of a what a business owner does is sell a service and to me neither auto body or nail salons are commoditized.

Commoditization of a service is an interesting point if the tool's purpose is to compare prices and/or available slots. An oil change is pretty much an oil change, and I have no idea about nail salons, but as you say the cost to diagnose and repair "my headlights keep turning on and off randomly" probably varies by an order of magnitude depending on where you go, and it's unlikely you'll get anything resembling a real estimate on the phone without bringing your vehicle in.

Maybe you don't know enough about the quality of work of auto shops, or care, so are willing to go wherever can get you in, but then the question comes back around to whether an automated tool to compare options is doing you a service or actively leading you to a bad decision.

Example:
The AI assistant calls three places and says "My client has a 2005 Honda Civic and says the headlights are turning off at random times. When could you work on this issue and how much would it cost?"

Place A says "I can't honestly tell you what it'll cost, we need to do diagnostics first. We charge $75 an hour for diagnostics, with a maximum of two hours. That kind of electrical repair could cost $1500 if it's the control board, but if it's something simple, that could be fixed within the diagnostic period. I can work on it Friday, and unless a part isn't in stock, I'll have it back to you the same day."

Place B mumbles "Freakin' AI." then says "300 bucks if you're lucky. Drop the car off tomorrow, we'll get to it when we get to it."

The AI tells you "Place A will cost as much as $1500 and will take your car Friday, Place B charges $300 and up and can start work on it tomorrow." Or, more likely, it filters it even further, and just says "The lowest price and earliest availability are both Place B, who can do the work for $300 or so and start tomorrow."

I question how reliably, at least at this point, it will tell you that Place B sounds sketchy, like they don't care, that their estimate was half-assed, or that it's entirely possible that they actually will charge considerably more than that and that it could be much longer before they actually do the work.

Yes, you get information out of it that's technically accurate, but as always, how valuable it is is not necessarily that easily quantified.

And then eventually, the super-sketchy Place C figures out how this works, and just starts answering "We can do the work for as little as $50, and can start as soon as you drop your car off," and pretty soon the AI tells everybody that they're the cheapest and fastest option, even though they're lying to game the system.

 

[I7guy]

Commoditization of a service is an interesting point if the tool's purpose is to compare prices and/or available slots. An oil change is pretty much an oil change, and I have no idea about nail salons, but as you say the cost to diagnose and repair "my headlights keep turning on and off randomly" probably varies by an order of magnitude depending on where you go, and it's unlikely you'll get anything resembling a real estimate on the phone without bringing your vehicle in.

Maybe you don't know enough about the quality of work of auto shops, or care, so are willing to go wherever can get you in, but then the question comes back around to whether an automated tool to compare options is doing you a service or actively leading you to a bad decision.

Example:
The AI assistant calls three places and says "My client has a 2005 Honda Civic and says the headlights are turning off at random times. When could you work on this issue and how much would it cost?"

Place A says "I can't honestly tell you what it'll cost, we need to do diagnostics first. We charge $75 an hour for diagnostics, with a maximum of two hours. That kind of electrical repair could cost $1500 if it's the control board, but if it's something simple, that could be fixed within the diagnostic period. I can work on it Friday, and unless a part isn't in stock, I'll have it back to you the same day."

Place B mumbles "Freakin' AI." then says "300 bucks if you're lucky. Drop the car off tomorrow, we'll get to it when we get to it."

The AI tells you "Place A will cost as much as $1500 and will take your car Friday, Place B charges $300 and up and can start work on it tomorrow." Or, more likely, it filters it even further, and just says "The lowest price and earliest availability are both Place B, who can do the work for $300 or so and start tomorrow."

I question how reliably, at least at this point, it will tell you that Place B sounds sketchy, like they don't care, that their estimate was half-assed, or that it's entirely possible that they actually will charge considerably more than that and that it could be much longer before they actually do the work.

Yes, you get information out of it that's technically accurate, but as always, how valuable it is is not necessarily that easily quantified.

And then eventually, the super-sketchy Place C figures out how this works, and just starts answering "We can do the work for as little as $50, and can start as soon as you drop your car off," and pretty soon the AI tells everybody that they're the cheapest and fastest option, even though they're lying to game the system.

The post above quantified my thoughts about some of the unforeseen effects of AI doing the phone calls. I think there are hidden pitfalls, but we will have to see where this goes.