Advertisement

Google Pixel phones can use text-to-speech to talk to 911 for you

The feature will roll out in the US 'over the coming months.'

In the event of an emergency, your first instinct might be to call 911. But in certain situations, you may not be able to speak with an operator. Whether that's because you're injured, in a dangerous situation or have a speech impairment, Google wants to make sure its users can request the help they need. Today, it introduced a new feature that lets you send automated voice messages with a single tap.

When you make an emergency call, the feature will let you tap "Medical," "Fire" or "Police." It will then send an automated voice message to the appropriate emergency service provider. It will gather your location using your phone's GPS and plus code. It won't require a data connection, and it will allow you to speak during the call if you're able to. The feature will arrive first on Pixel phones, and it's expected to land in the coming months. It will come to select Android devices sometime after that.