Make a call
Start a Live call with a bot from any thread, on Machine Desktop or your phone, and allow the microphone the first time.
Once a bot has a Glyph key, you can call it from any of its threads.
On Machine Desktop
Open the thread
Open the bot and the thread you want to talk about. The call's transcript goes back to this thread when you hang up.
Click Live
Click Live at the top of the chat, next to search.
Allow the microphone
The first time, your computer may ask to let Machine Desktop use the microphone. Allow it. See Microphone access if you said no.
Start talking
The call fills the window. When the status next to the bot's name says Listening, talk normally. The bot answers out loud.
On your phone
Open the thread
Open the bot, then the thread.
Tap the Live button
With the message box empty, a round button with a sound-wave icon sits at the right of the box. Tap it. The first time, a tip explains it: "Tap to start a voice call. When you hang up, the call lands back in this thread."
Allow the microphone
Your phone asks to let Machine use the microphone. Tap Allow.
The call opens full screen. See Live on your phone for the phone's call controls.
Where's the Live button?
On a phone, the button shows only while the message box is empty. Clear the box, or send what you typed first. It's also hidden in group chats, which don't have calls.
What happens when a call starts
- Connecting… Machine checks the bot's Glyph key and opens the call. It usually takes a couple of seconds.
- Listening. The bot is ready. Say hello.
- The bot already knows who it is and what this thread is about, so you can pick up where the chat left off: "So, about those desks. Which one would you actually buy?"
If the bot has no Glyph key yet, you'll see Talk with Writer live instead. Paste a key once and the call starts. See Set up Glyph.
One call at a time
- You can have one call per bot at a time.
- On Machine Desktop, the call covers the window until you hang up. Hang up before you move to another bot.
- On a phone you can shrink the call to a bar and keep using the app. See Live on your phone.
Microphone access
Live calls need the microphone. If Machine can't use it, the call screen shows a red message and the bot can't hear you.
| Device | Turn the microphone on |
|---|---|
| Windows | Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Turn on Microphone access and Let desktop apps access your microphone. |
| Mac | System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. Turn on Machine Desktop. |
| Android | Settings → Apps → Machine → Permissions → Microphone → Allow. |
| iPhone and iPad | Settings → Machine → Microphone. |
Then end the call and start it again.
On iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad, Live calls use a simpler connection to Glyph. You can talk just the same, but the bot can't use Glyph's tools on the call, such as making images. The call screen says so. Live settings don't apply there yet either: every call is hands-free, with Glyph's default voice. Everything works fully on Machine Desktop and Android.