What is an AI receptionist?

The short version

An AI receptionist is software that answers your business phone and holds a spoken conversation with the caller. It greets them as your business, finds out what they need and passes the details to you, usually by text or email.

It is not voicemail, because the caller talks to something that talks back. And it is not a call centre, because no person is on the other end.

What a good one does

• Answers when you can't, including evenings and weekends.
• Takes a proper message: who is calling, where they are, what is wrong and how urgent it is.
• Sends you the details quickly, so you can ring back while the customer is still looking.
• Sticks to what you've told it, and doesn't invent prices or promises.

What it can't do

Be wary of any service that claims an AI can replace a person completely. In practice:

• It can mishear names, addresses and numbers, especially on a bad line. Treat the message as a prompt to call back.
• It doesn't know your trade. It should take details, not give advice on repairs or safety.
• It can't deal with emergencies. Anyone in danger needs to ring 999.
• Some can book appointments or pass a call to your mobile, and some can't. Check before you buy.

Questions to ask before choosing

• Can I hear it answering as my own business before I pay?
• Do I keep my own number?
• What happens when I run out of minutes or calls?
• Does it tell callers it isn't a person if they ask?
• Are calls recorded, and where is my customers' information kept?
• Is there a contract, and how do I cancel?

Our own answers to these are on the security page, the pricing page and in the terms.

What it costs

UK services range from around £30 to £300 a month, usually priced by minutes or by number of calls. A telephone answering service staffed by people typically costs more for the same volume, and a part-time employee more again. Kallorix starts at £49 a month for 150 minutes.

Try one

The quickest way to judge an AI receptionist is to ring it. You can build a free demo from your own website in about two minutes and talk to it yourself.