AI phone numbers are making life easier for many customer support teams and businesses. Their voices sound practically human, they can handle inbound and outbound calls, and perform many other helpful tasks.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What AI phone numbers are and how they work
- Best platforms to create an AI phone number
- Step-by-step setup for AI phone numbers to call or text
- How businesses can benefit from AI-driven phone systems
- Why you should choose Lindy.ai to set up your artificial intelligence phone number
Let’s now discuss what AI phone numbers are and how you can set one up.
What are AI phone numbers?
AI phone numbers use large language models and advanced algorithms to handle inbound and outbound calls and text messaging. When you integrate with other AI services like databases with leads or detailed analytics reports, it leads to faster and pretty good customer support.
Gone are the days of awkward-sounding robocalls: Knowledgeable AI agents with crisp, natural accents have replaced these dinosaurs. Today's AI phone numbers can learn everything about your product, accurately reflect your brand, troubleshoot customer problems, and execute many other customer service-related tasks.
Your AI phone agent will use a knowledge base, a document that explains your products and services, as its “brain,” serving as your AI’s information source during calls. Most AI phone number providers allow you to continually update your knowledge base as your products and services change.
How AI phone numbers work
Essentially, AI phone numbers work with at least 3 different technologies:
- Speech-to-text tool: This transforms a customer’s spoken words into digital text, so the LLM can analyze what the customer is saying.
- LLM (large language model) to analyze customer queries: Advanced LLMs like Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o can understand a lot more context that traditional phone number services, which will help give accurate responses to ensure your AI provides the best customer service.
- Text-to-speech tool: After the LLM creates a response, the text-to-speech function delivers the response to the customer on the other end of the line.
A quality AI phone platform will execute these 3 crucial tasks in microseconds, sounding like an actual human responding to questions or comments over the phone.
Best platforms for AI phone numbers
Now that you know what AI phone numbers are and how they work let’s examine a few leading ones. Check out these top options:
Lindy
Lindy is an AI agent that can assist you with nearly all AI phone tasks like inbound and outbound calls and text messaging services.
Features
You can integrate with Twilio to automate the sending and receiving of SMS messages. Lindy also supports up to 30 different languages, which is music to the ears of international customer service teams.
But Lindy is more than an AI phone tool: It’ll organize your inbox, research webpages, PDFs, and documents, compose emails, and execute many more tasks.
Pricing
Create a phone agent for $49.99/month, with US-based (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) inbound/outbound calls costing $0.19/minute. You can also generate phone numbers for $10/number.
Number
Number automates a significant portion of daily communications via WhatsApp, text, and calls. You can engage customers and provide a seamless, round-the-clock communication channel for lead qualification, customer support, and sales management.
Features
Engage with leads from websites and social media platforms, including Facebook and Google Ads. And if you use other business tools or CRM software, you’ll most like be able to connect to them using the Zapier integration.
Pricing
Start using Number for $245/month and get up to 3 numbers, all integrations, and 2,000 total AI responses.
Goodcall
Goodcall is designed to streamline customer interactions by automating call handling and integrating with CRM systems. Its AI phone numbers provide a robust alternative to traditional phone systems with a user-friendly, easy-to-implement service.
Features
Goodcall offers smart routing capabilities, which automatically direct calls to the appropriate departments or human reps. You’ll also get detailed analytics on call patterns, customer preferences, and interaction outcomes to determine what’s working.
Pricing
Start using GoodCall for $59/month and get unlimited calls and 7 days of saved call history.
How to set up an AI phone number
In most cases, you don’t need to have any technical knowledge to create an AI phone number. Just follow these key steps:
Step 1: Choose a platform for your needs
First, get a pencil and a piece of paper and jot down exactly what you need in an AI phone number service. For instance, will you need to support several languages? How about integrating with third-party applications for smooth data transfer? Importantly, determine your budget, and how much you’re willing to pay monthly.
Additionally, if you’re building an AI phone number for a clinic, medical practice, or any other business that handles sensitive client data, you’ll need to ensure that the platform you select is HIPAA compliant.
Once you’ve done this, research each of the above AI phone number providers and consider how their features, reliability, and cost meet your needs. Cross-reference your notes while doing this to ensure everything aligns accurately, then shortlist your top 2 or 3.
Stuck in the selection process? Then, try out each platform’s free version or demo. Doing this will give you an idea of how each platform functions and jives with your preferences, allowing you to pick your winner without too much fuss.
Step 2: Select a phone number
Most AI phone number providers make picking a phone number insanely easy — you’ll be able to type your desired number into a search bar that tells you whether or not it’s available.
Then, consider where your audience is located globally. It goes without saying, but you'll want to select a US-based number if the vast majority is in the US. If you can, select a toll-free number (1-800/1-888) so folks can call you back without charge.
Additionally, try to choose a memorable number, such as one that repeats digits or spells out a name, such as your business, in corresponding keypad digits. Doing this makes it easier for folks to remember your number so they can call you on the fly.
Step 3: Configure AI features
First, you’ll want to ensure that you have a solid knowledge base covering all the features and functionalities of your services, so that your AI agent has all the relevant information at your fingertips.
Add company help documents to your knowledge base so your AI can provide optimal customer service. You must remember to update your knowledge base so your agents always accurately inform customers.
Next, you’ll command your AI to use a specific tone when engaging with customers on the phone — this is called creating your AI’s persona. Ensure that your agent aligns with your business’s core values so they accurately represent you while speaking with customers.
Most AI phone number platforms allow you to select extra features, like auto-responses to texts, voicemail, meeting scheduling with or routing to a human agent, and others. Determine which of these makes the most sense to your operational model.
Setting up an AI inbound vs. outbound calls: what's the difference?
Once your knowledge base is up and running, it’s time to configure your AI phone number for inbound and outbound calls and texts. Setting up AI for inbound and outbound calls involves distinct approaches.
Inbound AI call systems primarily manage communications such as queries, support requests, or feedback. Because of this, you’ll want to ensure your knowledge base is sufficient to handle nearly any question or disgruntled request.
Importantly, you’ll need to train your AI to detect if a customer isn’t getting the required info so you can route them to a human agent who can solve the problem.
On the other hand, outbound AI call systems are set up to initiate contact with customers or potential client - typically for marketing, sales, appointment reminders, or customer engagement updates.
Outbound calls usually involve either communicating basic scheduling or confirmation info or collecting data from people. For confirmation reminders, you’ll need to ensure all the information your AI agent provides is accurate.
When AI collects data, it will first organize it by sending the info straight to a database or spreadsheet like Google Sheets. Then, the AI agent can send a notification to your team via Slack, informing them that the data’s ready.
Step 4: Integrate with other tools
You most likely use several third-party apps, such as Slack, Google Sheets, HubSpot CRM, and others. Luckily, you can transfer the information you glean through your AI phone number directly to other platforms to keep your team informed.
While integrating external tools with your AI phone number will differ from platform to platform, the process generally follows these steps:
- Choose the third-party platform you want to integrate with your AI phone number’s building interface.
- Access each third-party platform, copy and paste API data to the required destination in the building interface.
- Confirming the transfer of data from that third-party platform to your AI phone.
Once you’ve set up your integrations, you’re nearly done creating your AI phone number.
Step 5: Test & deploy
While most AI phone number providers offer robust testing features, it’s a good idea to release a “soft” version of your AI tool and test it among your organization's staff. Ensure that you gather feedback on every interaction so you can further polish your AI agent.
Once you’ve thoroughly tested your AI phone number, it’s time to unleash it. Yet, do not neglect your AI phone number for long: Continue to monitor your agents so you can catch any little hiccups before they become significant issues.
And always keep your knowledge base up to date — this plays a pivotal role in how well your AI agents serve customers.
Best practices for using AI phone numbers
To maximize the effectiveness of AI phone numbers, follow these best practices:
- Ensure compliance: When using AI phone numbers, it is critical to comply with all relevant legal and regulatory standards, such as HIPAA, SOC 2 Type 2, and state and nationwide telemarketing laws.
Before building your AI phone number, it’s critical to ensure which laws and stands you must comply with. It’s a good idea to consult with legal experts before getting started so you have a solid knowledge of all applicable laws and avoid penalties.
- Provide opt-out options: Although some states require them, offering opt-out options is essential for respecting customer preferences and maintaining trust. Do this by ensuring users can quickly decline to interact with AI or opt out of data collection and processing.
Opting out can be facilitated through voice commands or keypad options, allowing users to speak with a human representative or remove themselves from call lists.
- Deploy your AI agent strategically: Use AI phone numbers in scenarios where they can boost productivity without compromising service quality. These include handling routine inquiries, appointment scheduling, or providing information that doesn’t require deep customization.
Human interaction is often preferable for more complex needs, such as technical support or sensitive customer service issues. Always try to continuously evaluate your AI systems' performance in real scenarios and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Regularly update AI responses and knowledge base: Regularly updating your AI's responses is crucial for obvious reasons. You should review your AI's knowledge base regularly and update it with new information, customer feedback, and changing business services or products.
Additionally, regularly review and update the scripts and decision trees that guide AI interactions and shape your AI’s persona. This continuous improvement helps adapt to customer needs and preferences, preventing outdated responses that can lead to customer frustration and disengagement.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI phone numbers answer calls?
Yes, AI phone numbers can answer calls with powerful large language models like ChatGPT-4o or Claude 3.5 sonnet. AI can be programmed to respond to specific queries, provide information, route calls to the appropriate department, or even schedule appointments based on the caller's needs.
What’s the best AI phone service?
In our opinion, the best AI phone service leverages a powerful LLM like ChatGPT-4o, offers loads of integrations, and goes beyond the essential services of AI phone numbers by providing other features like inbox organizing, email negotiation, research, and more. Lindy provides all these functionalities — that’s why Lindy is our best overall AI phone number creation platform.
Are AI phone numbers legal?
While AI phone numbers using AI-generated voices for calls are subject to strict regulations under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), they are legal if the recipient confirms that they will accept AI phone calls.
Why businesses use Lindy for AI-powered phone calls
By handling both inbound and outbound calls, your custom-made Lindy's AI agents (called Lindies) will manage a high volume of calls and ensure that customers aren’t left waiting.
Here are some ways Lindy stands out:
- Providing accurate information: Craft your own knowledge base and Lindy will use the AI model of your choice to handle a wide range of queries accurately.
- Automating survey outreach: You can conduct market research or gather feedback without additional human resources. This saves time and increases the frequency and accuracy of data collection.
- Expanding global reach: Lindy’s phone agents can speak and understand over 30 languages, allowing you to reach a global audience.
Integrating Lindy's AI phone assistants helps you speed up customer interactions, improve communication processes, and operate more productively. Try Lindy today for free.
