Google's new AI called toy stores for me — and actually found a Labubu

Tom's Guide

2 days ago

Google's Gemini AI just got a major upgrade and it's no longer just helping you search. It's picking up the phone and doing the work for you.
A new experimental feature, currently rolling out through Google's AI Mode in Search Labs, allows Gemini to call local businesses on your behalf. Using its Duplex technology, the same AI voice that once made restaurant reservations, Gemini can now check prices, confirm inventory, ask about hours and deliver back a clean summary. All you have to do is tap a button and wait for the follow-up.
And yes, it actually works. I tested it in a real-life, highly specific scenario: tracking down a Labubu toy for my eight-year-old daughter.
Here's what happened and why I think this marks a major shift in how AI will help us get things done.
When you search for something like 'pet stores near me' or '24-hour pharmacies near me,' you might see a new prompt underneath certain business listings: 'Have AI check availability' or 'Have AI check pricing.'
Tap it, and Gemini will walk you through a short form asking what you're looking for, when you need it and how far you're willing to travel.
From there, Gemini uses Duplex to place the call. The AI introduces itself clearly (no pretending to be a real human here) and asks your question directly. You don't need to listen in; once the call is done, Gemini sends a text or email summary with the business's response, including details like product availability, price and store hours.
The biggest thing for me was not repeating myself over and over as I called every store. The AI did it for me.
This is one of several agent-style features Google is rolling into Search Labs. Others include Deep Search for research, shopping tools that summarize specs across multiple listings, and Gemini 2.5 Pro, a more powerful AI model built for longform reasoning.
But the ability to make real-world phone calls is easily the most hands-on feature to date.
Let's back up: my daughter has been obsessed with Labubu. For those unfamiliar, this is an overpriced wide-eyed vinyl figure from Pop Mart that's part gremlin, part woodland sprite. The popularity rivals that of Beanie Babies back in the day. These things are oddly hard to find in stores unless you know where to look. And no, you can't just buy one easily on Amazon (trust me, I looked there first).
My daughter has been begging me for one for ever and saved her money to pay for half. So, I was determined to track it down.
After striking out with a few stores on my own, I spotted the 'Have AI check availability' button under a store listing on Google. I tapped it. Gemini asked a few quick questions about the toy and how far I'd be willing to drive. I was not going to drive into NYC for it, but I said I would pay for shipping.
Then I forgot about it until about 40 minutes later, when I got a message. Gemini had called the store, asked about Labubu, confirmed they had some in stock, and included pricing and store hours.
I was blown away by how painless this was, especially compared to the chaos of past popular toys. Cabbage Patches, Tickle Me Emo and more would have been so much easier to handle with this feature.
There's something quietly brilliant about the way this works. Unlike voice assistants that stop at suggestions, Gemini actually acts on your behalf and does so in a way that feels human, helpful and hands-off. It's not just passively surfacing information, it's solving the problem for you. It's kind of wild.
For parents, introverts or just busy people who don't want to spend their afternoon calling five different stores, this is the AI tool we didn't know we needed.
The feature is currently available to all U.S. users, with higher usage limits for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Business owners can also opt out if they'd rather not receive AI-driven calls.
It's also part of a broader trend we're seeing with agentic AI, tools that actually complete tasks. ChatGPT is doing it with its new agent feature, Perplexity has copilots, and now Google is bringing that capability into the real world through Search.
Google's new AI features might seem like small upgrades, until they solve a real problem for you. In my case, that problem was tracking down a popular toy for my daughter, and Gemini nailed it. The toy is being shipped out, so I'll update this story with "Big Into Energy" Labubu when it arrives.
We're entering a new era where AI is proactive. And if it means I never have to waste time on hold again, I'm definitely here for it.