The $30 million upgrade to Take a Message

Google is enhancing its AI-powered voicemail feature, Take a Message, by allowing Pixel users to record custom greetings. the update, rolling out to Pixel 6 and later devices, offers more personalization while maintaining on-device transcript generation and spam filtering.

Available in select countries, the feature works alongside traditional carrier voicemail to ensure comprehensive missed-call coverage.

Google has been redefining the voicemail experience for its Pixel smartphone users with the introduction of Take a Message, a feature that leverages on-device artificial intelligence to handle incoming calls.

Initially launched in 2025, Take a Message functions similarly to a traditional answering machine but with a key difference: it generates real-time transcripts of the caller's message, allowing users to decide whether to answer the call without picking up.

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The custom greeting feature first appeared in the beta version of the Phone by Google app in April 2026 and is now rolling out to supported devices.

To use it, you need a Pixel 6 or later running Android 16 or highr.

Currently, Take a Message is available in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

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Users can record multiple greetings, each up to one minute long, and choose which one to use for incoming calls that go to voicemail.

The core functionality of Take a Message remains unchanged.

When a call is received,the AI answers, plays the greeting (either default or custom), records the caller's message, and provides a real-time transcript on the user's screen.

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One of the key advantages of Take a Message is its privacy focus.

All processing happens on the device, meaning transcripts and recordings are stored locally and are not uploaded to Google servers or saved in the user's Google account.

This is a significant differentiator from carrier voicemail services, which typically store messages in the cloud.

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However, Take a Message is not a complete replacement for carrier voicemail.

It only works when the Pixel phone is powered on and connected to a network.

If the device is turned off, out of coverage, or roaming, Take a Message will not function.