Google's AI is starting to call, book and compare local businesses. How to be ready by 2027

Here's the order in which these features arrived, based on Google's own announcements:

• July 2025: AI checks prices by phone. For US searches like pet grooming and dry cleaning, a "Have AI check pricing" option lets Search call several businesses, ask about price and availability, and send the person a summary by text or email.
• August 2025: restaurant bookings. AI Mode began finding open restaurant tables across booking platforms like OpenTable, Resy and Tock, starting as a US experiment.
• November 2025: "is it in stock nearby?" Google started calling local shops in the US to check whether products like toys, beauty items and electronics were in stock, and whether there were any deals.
• May 2026: more services, more calls. At Google I/O, Google said its search agents would book local experiences and services, and call businesses in categories like home repair, beauty and pet care, rolling out to everyone in the US that summer.

In other words, a customer can now ask for "a groomer who can take a big dog this Saturday, within my budget", and Google does the ringing around.

This is the part that matters most for you. When the calling feature launched, a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Journal that businesses are chosen using Google's traditional local search rankings. Only businesses that appear for the search and match what the customer asked for get contacted.

So AI calling doesn't replace local SEO. It sits on top of it. If you don't show up in the local results for "dog grooming near me", the AI never dials your number.

That means the usual local ranking factors decide who gets the call. Google's own help page names them as relevance, distance and prominence. Local search experts rank your primary category, proximity, accurate hours, reviews and a complete profile highest. Our Google Business Profile ranking factors guide goes through each with data.

An AI agent compares businesses the way a careful customer would, just faster. BrightLocal asked 1,227 consumers what made them choose one local business over another. Their answers are a decent preview of what an agent will weigh:

Look at the highlighted three. Clear information, clear prices and a quick response are exactly what an AI caller is collecting. A business that answers the phone promptly with a straight price and a free slot will look good in the summary the customer reads.

When Google's AI calls, it asks specific questions on a customer's behalf, typically about price, availability or stock. You don't have to do anything special, but you can make the most of it:

1. 1Answer, or make sure someone does. A missed call is a missed spot in the summary. If you can't answer during busy hours, consider a call-forwarding or answering arrangement.
2. 2Give a clear price or range. "₹800 to ₹1,200 depending on size" is far more useful than "come and see".
3. 3Give real availability. "Saturday 11am or 3pm" beats "we're quite busy".
4. 4Mention what's included. If the price includes nail trimming or a free consultation, say so. It may make it into the summary.
5. 5Keep a cheat sheet by the phone. Current prices, typical waiting time and standard answers, so anyone on your team gives the same reply.

Google has said from the start that "businesses are always in control via their Business Profile settings" when it comes to AI calls. If you'd rather not receive them, you can turn them off there. If you want the enquiries, leave them on and treat each call like a warm lead.

Our view: for most service businesses, these calls are worth taking. They come from people who have already said what they want, when, and roughly what they'll pay. That's a better lead than most adverts produce.

Booking works a little differently. Google's agents usually send the customer to finish on a booking page or partner platform. If your category supports it, add your booking link to your Business Profile so the agent has somewhere to send people.

As of late 2026, these features are mainly in the US. Google often launches in the US first and then expands, and India has received many recent Search features early, including AI Mode in June 2025 and Ask Maps in March 2026. We can't promise a date, but it's sensible to get ready now, because everything that prepares you for AI calls also brings in customers today.

Your preparation checklist:

1. 1Complete your Business Profile: services with prices, accurate regular and special hours, booking link, attributes. Our field-by-field checklist covers each one.
2. 2Publish your prices on your website and profile, even as ranges.
3. 3Fix your phone situation: one number, answered during listed hours.
4. 4Keep reviews flowing so you rank in the results the AI draws from. See our Google reviews guide.
5. 5Check where you stand today with a free GMB ONE audit, which compares your profile with three nearby businesses.