Summary
- Two Pixel-exclusive calling features are coming to Android Auto, Call Screen and Call Notes.
- Call Screen automatically screens calls from unknown numbers for you, asking who is calling and why, letting you then decide to answer.
- Call Notes uses Gemini Nano to summarize phone calls for you.
While many features on Google’s Pixel smartphones are also available on other Android phones, some useful functionalities remain exclusive to Pixel devices, including Best Take, Add Me, and the Pixel Screenshots app. Additionally, Pixel phones offer a variety of helpful calling features, and arguably, two of the best are now being integrated into Android Auto to improve your drive.
In a recent blog post, Google announced that it’s bringing two Pixel-exclusive calling features to Android Auto: Call Screen and Call Notes. Call Screen is rolling out now to Android Auto, while Google says Call Notes will be arriving later this year.
“To ensure you’re only picking up when it matters, Android Auto will now allow your phone to screen calls in your car,” Google explained. “And for when you have to take the call, but can’t jot down the important takeaways, we’re also bringing Call Notes to Android Auto later this year.”
What are Call Screen and Call Notes?
You can screen phone calls and summarize them
If you’re unfamiliar with Call Screen and Call Notes, these are two extremely useful calling features exclusive to Pixel smartphones. Call Screen allows your phone to automatically screen calls before you answer them, so you can see who is calling and why. The feature doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi or mobile data and can be used when an unknown number calls you that isn’t in your contact list. So don’t worry, your best friends won’t suddenly be getting call screened.
When an unknown caller answers the Call Screen, the information is then displayed on your phone screen, allowing you to decide whether to answer or decline the call. This means that with Call Screen now available in Android Auto, the response to a Call Screen from an unknown number will appear on your car’s infotainment display, making it easier to see and decline if necessary, helping you stay more focused on the road rather than dealing with spam calls you don’t need to answer.
To enable Call Screen on your Pixel phone to use with Android Auto, just open up the Phone app and go to Settings > Spam and Call Screen. From there, you can set up Call Screen to your preferences. It’s worth noting that Call Screen is only available in the US, UK, Spain, Japan, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
I get random calls almost every day, so Call Screen is a huge lifesaver because it makes it easier to tell which calls are genuine and which aren’t.
Moving on to Call Notes, this is a newer feature introduced by Google with the Pixel 9 series. It uses Gemini Nano to generate summaries of your calls, highlighting key points and suggesting next steps. Call Notes relies on on-device AI, and all the information is stored on your phone, ensuring your calls remain private and are not shared with Google.
When using Android Auto and taking a call while driving, Call Notes can summarize the conversation for you, which is particularly useful during long or busy commutes, helping you remember important details you might forget. You can check your Call Notes in your call log. Call Notes is only available in the US and requires a US SIM card, as well as a Pixel 9 or newer device. You can enable it in the Phone app under Settings > Call Notes.
I get random calls almost every day, so Call Screen is a huge lifesaver because it makes it easier to tell which calls are genuine and which aren’t. Call Notes is also especially helpful for jogging your memory after a phone call. If you have a Pixel phone and use Android Auto in your car, these two features are convenient and save time, and I think they’re worth checking out. Call Screen is now rolling out to Android Auto, while Google says Call Notes will be available “later this year.”
