For those who own a Google Pixel phone, the Phone app’s Call Screen feature has likely become a trusted companion, allowing Google Assistant to field calls on your behalf. This innovative tool not only identifies incoming callers but also provides insights into their purpose. Following a recent update that introduced contextual replies, it appears that Google is poised to enhance this feature further with the introduction of ‘AI Replies.’
Google is readying contextual ‘AI Replies’ for the Call Screen feature in the Pixel Phone app
The current iteration of contextual Call Screen replies enables users to respond to callers without the need to pick up the phone. For instance, if you receive a call regarding an appointment, Google suggests relevant responses. In scenarios where appointment confirmation is required, options like “Confirm” or “Cancel appointment” are readily available.
In a recent APK teardown report, the tech-savvy team at 9to5Google unearthed code strings linked to AI Replies within the latest beta version 153 of the Phone app. Interestingly, the existing Call Screen feature is internally referred to as “dobby.” The newly discovered code hints at enhancements, featuring terms such as “dobbyAI” and “dobbyLLM.”
Furthermore, speculation suggests that Google may leverage its Gemini Nano technology to power these AI Replies. Following this revelation, Android Authority contributor Assemble Debug shared a screenshot on X, confirming that Google is indeed working on integrating AI Replies into the Call Screen functionality.
You’ll be able to enable or disable AI Replies whenever available
The screenshot reveals a clear description of the AI Replies feature, stating, “Call Assist suggests new AI-powered smart replies based on the caller’s Call Screen responses.” The presence of a toggle switch implies that users will have the flexibility to enable or disable AI Replies as they see fit.
While this development is promising, details remain sparse regarding how these AI-generated responses will differ from the current offerings within the Call Screen feature. Additionally, the timeline for when Google intends to make this AI enhancement available to the broader public remains uncertain.
