Google enhanced Call Screen with contextual replies last December, and now the Pixel Phone app is preparing to introduce “AI Replies” using large language model technology.
In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve examined the latest version of an app that Google uploaded to the Play Store.
It’s important to note that Google may or may not release these features, and our interpretation could be imperfect.
For features that seem near completion, we’ll attempt to enable them and show you what they might look like if released. With that said, let’s dive in.
Currently, Call Screen’s contextual replies allow users to “respond in a way that fits the situation” without answering the call.
For example, if a call comes in about an appointment, Google provides suggested replies like “Confirm” or “Cancel appointment,” which help users avoid unnecessary calls.
These replies complement general prompts like “Hello,” “Can you say more?” “Who is this?” “Call me back later,” and “Thank you.”
December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop
Google might soon expand this functionality with “AI Replies.” In version 153 (latest beta) of the Phone by Google app, strings reveal how “Call Assist suggests new AI-powered smart replies based on the caller’s Call Screen responses.”
Call Assist—a suite of features that includes Call Notes, Hold for Me, Direct My Call, and Clear Calling—is now represented by a Gemini icon rather than the Assistant logo.
Internally, the Call Screen feature is codenamed “dobby” (a reference to *Harry Potter*), with the AI Replies extension referred to as “dobby_AI” and “dobby_LLM.” It appears that AI Replies will rely on Gemini Nano.
Unlike the current version, which offers basic replies, this upcoming feature seems poised to operate across more situations and provide more accurate responses.
Users will have the option to “Turn on AI replies,” a setting not available for the existing Call Screen feature.
Previously, Google hinted at adding “multi-step, multi-turn conversational AI” to the Phone app.
With the recent Android 15 Pixel Drop, Google introduced an updated Call Screen with a more natural-sounding voice and expanded contextual replies to other countries outside the U.S.
