Google just rolled out Take a Message, a new AI feature for Pixel 10 phones that automatically handles missed calls by creating real-time transcripts and generating smart action items. The on-device feature combines the company's proven Call Screen spam detection with Call Notes-style AI summaries, potentially changing how we deal with voicemail forever.
Google is betting that the future of voicemail involves a lot less listening and a lot more reading. The company's newest Pixel 10 exclusive, Take a Message, launched today as what might be the most practical AI feature yet - turning missed calls into actionable text summaries without you ever having to press play on another rambling voicemail.
The feature works by automatically picking up declined or missed calls and using Google's conversational AI to create real-time transcripts of whatever the caller says. But here's where it gets interesting - Take a Message doesn't just transcribe. It also generates AI-powered next steps after each call, similar to how Call Notes works during active conversations, according to Google's announcement.
"Today's phones are so capable we sometimes forget what they were originally made for: taking or making calls," Google writes in the blog post. It's a clever observation that underscores how the company has been systematically rebuilding the calling experience piece by piece over the past few years.
The timing feels deliberate. Google has spent years training users to trust Call Screen, which has become one of Pixel's most beloved features for its ability to filter spam calls before they even ring your phone. Take a Message leverages that same spam detection model, meaning sketchy robocalls won't clutter your message summaries.
What sets Take a Message apart from traditional voicemail transcription services is its on-device processing. Everything happens locally on the Pixel 10's Tensor chip, which means your conversations never leave your phone - a crucial privacy advantage as AI features become more personal and invasive.
The feature represents Google's broader strategy of using AI to solve everyday frustrations rather than flashy demos. While competitors focus on AI assistants that can book restaurants or write emails, Google is quietly making the basic functions of your phone smarter. Call Screen already handles the annoyance of unknown numbers. Call Notes summarizes long conversations. Now Take a Message tackles the universal problem of voicemail backlogs.
For businesses and professionals who receive dozens of calls daily, the implications are significant. Instead of playing through multiple voicemails to triage urgency, users can scan AI-generated summaries and action items to immediately understand what needs attention. A message from a client about a deadline becomes instantly actionable without the traditional back-and-forth of phone tag.
