Updated Google Phone App

Google has rolled out a major Material 3 redesign to its Phone app, making the core calling experience significantly cleaner and integrating powerful new AI features.
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The main change is a switch to the Material 3 Expressive design. This new look is clearer and less cluttered:

• Simplified Navigation: Your Favorites and Recents are now merged into a single Home tab for one-stop access to your most important contacts and call history.
• Better Call Answering: The old, confusing vertical swipe to answer is replaced with a clear horizontal swipe or single-tap option. This is more intuitive and helps prevent accidental "pocket calls."
• AI for International Calls: Voice Translate is now available in the app, using AI to provide real-time, natural-sounding translations during a call (on newer Pixel devices).
• Smart Notes: Call Notes is enhanced to automatically suggest creating calendar events or tasks based on things you discuss during a conversation.

The new design and AI features are specifically built to make the phone more proactive and less intimidating:

1. No-Worry Calling: The enhanced Call Screen and Scam Detection use AI to block unwanted interruptions for you, so you only answer important calls.
2. Clear Actions: The simplified tap/swipe gesture for incoming calls removes the complexity of the previous interface.
3. Proactive Assistance: Features like Call Notes mean you don't have to scramble for a pen or struggle to remember details—the phone does the heavy lifting of organization for you.

The new app’s goal is to make the technology fade into the background, so you can focus on the conversation, not the controls.
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Google phones 9+ have this, Samsung are looking to incorporate similar functionality.

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Image Source: https://m3.material.io/