Yandex has started testing a new function of the AI assistant “Alice AI”, which allows it to make calls to organizations and individuals on behalf of the user. At the same time, the signature “Alice, request from user” is displayed on the phone screen of the call recipient, reported Vedomosti with reference to a company representative.
Image source: Yandex
In test mode, the assistant can voice a list of questions the user is interested in, listen to the answer and ask a clarifying question. Also, for example, it can sign up a user for services, book tables in cafes and restaurants, etc.
After completing a conversation, the AI assistant sends a transcript of the conversation to the chat and, if necessary, asks the user to confirm important actions.
To prevent abuse, for example, the use of an AI assistant for marketing and cold calling clients, the company limited the ability to call one number – no more than 10 times per hour. How many calls “Alice” can make and how many orders she can make over a certain period of time has not yet been reported.
Telecom operators have similar developments in this direction. For example, Megafon tested the AI secretary “Eva”, which made outgoing calls with free dialogue, T2 has an AI secretary “Lina”, which answers incoming calls. T2 considers the use of proactive voice assistants to conduct conversations on behalf of the client as the next stage in the evolution of virtual assistants.
Beeline noted the limited interest of users in AI assistants, explaining this by people’s distrust. In particular, it is unclear what data the AI will receive and what it can negotiate on behalf of the client. MTS reported that their security systems will perceive individual orders as regular calls from a private subscriber, and block if abused.
The legal side of the matter also raises questions. According to the current version of the terms of use of Alice AI, calls and other actions in the new mode are considered the actions of the user himself, and as a result, all responsibility for this lies with him. The user is obliged to control the work of the assistant and stop his unwanted actions. At the same time, the AI assistant cannot perform legally significant actions offline without human participation.
Yandex is positioning the new feature as a technical tool without guarantees of error-free operation, without taking on any obligation to compensate for possible losses. The telephone feature is described as “automated, robocalls or other calls.”
According to experts, the assistant can be considered as a technical means for expressing the will of the user, therefore, a contract concluded by the AI assistant on behalf of the subscriber during a conversation can potentially be recognized as valid.
It is reported that several thousand active users of a paid subscription to the neural network will have access to the function in test mode. Its launch is scheduled for the end of 2026.
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