Yandex has launched a test mode for its Alice AI assistant, enabling it to make phone calls on behalf of users. The tool can handle tasks such as booking appointments or making restaurant reservations by interacting with organizations and individuals.
During a call, the recipient sees the caller ID as Alice, a request from a user. To prevent spam and cold calling, Yandex has limited the assistant to no more than ten calls per hour to a single number. After each conversation, the user receives a transcript in the chat.
The service is currently available to several thousand active subscribers of the paid AI plan. Yandex plans a full-scale public launch by the end of 2026. Pricing for the feature has not yet been determined.
Yandex clarifies that it provides the technical tool but does not guarantee error-free performance or cover potential damages. Users bear full responsibility for the assistant's actions and must monitor its performance to prevent unwanted outcomes.
Legal experts note that agreements made by the AI on behalf of a user may be legally binding. The assistant is viewed as a technical tool through which the user expresses their will, and call transcripts could serve as evidence in potential disputes.
