Can I use AI to answer calls?
Yes, you can use AI to answer your business calls, and the technology is legal and widely adopted. The FCC confirmed in 2024 that AI-generated voices fall under existing phone regulations, but inbound AI answering — where a caller dials your business and an AI picks up — is legal everywhere in the United States with no disclosure requirement. Outbound AI calls require different handling. Setting up AI call answering takes under 15 minutes with a service like Aira: you forward your existing business number, configure which questions the AI should answer, and decide which types of calls should transfer to a human. The AI handles the conversation, books appointments, and sends you a text for every call. See how AI call answering works under the hood.
Related questions
- What does an AI receptionist do?An AI receptionist answers calls, books appointments, takes messages, routes callers, and handles 30+ languages — 24/7. Here's the full capability list.
- How much does an AI receptionist cost?AI receptionists range from $24.95 to $300+/mo. Per-call pricing is predictable; per-minute pricing can spike. See full 2026 pricing breakdown.
- Is an AI receptionist worth it?An AI receptionist pays off when a missed call costs more than the monthly plan. Here's when the math works — and when it doesn't.