How to Choose an AI Receptionist: 9 Questions That Separate Real From Hype

Every week a new "AI receptionist" launches. Some are genuine platforms; some are a chatbot duct-taped to a phone number. Here are the nine questions that expose the difference.

1. Can I hear it right now?

A vendor confident in voice quality publishes a live demo line. If you can't call the product before buying it, that tells you everything. (Ours is one tap away — hear it on a live call.)

2. Does it take actions, or just talk?

Answering is table stakes. The value is in doing: booking into your real calendar, writing to your CRM, sending confirmations, creating tickets. Ask to see a booked appointment land in a live calendar.

3. What happens when it doesn't know?

The right answer: it says so honestly and escalates to your team with context, per rules you set. The wrong answer: it improvises.

4. Will it know MY business?

Generic scripts feel generic in the first ten seconds. Demand training on your services, pricing, policies, and tone — and an approval pass before go-live.

5–9: the rapid fire

• Integrations: does it plug into your existing stack? (Check ours.)
• Compliance: HIPAA-ready with a BAA, if you're in healthcare. (Details.)
• Concurrency: what happens when ten calls hit at once?
• Reporting: can you see transcripts, outcomes, and revenue attribution?
• Contracts: month-to-month confidence, or a 12-month lock-in?

Bring this list to every vendor — including us, on a 30-minute demo.