We’ve Been Testing an AI Receptionist – And Honestly, It’s Impressive

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been quietly testing something new at Gleave Media and G12 Business Networking.

An AI receptionist.

Now, before anyone rolls their eyes and imagines one of those awful “Press 1 for sales” phone systems from years ago… this is completely different.

This technology actually talks to people naturally.

It answers calls instantly, understands what callers are asking, responds conversationally, takes messages, qualifies enquiries and can even send call summaries and transcripts directly to your inbox.

And yes — it genuinely sounds human.

Why We Started Looking At This

Like many businesses, we know how easy it is to miss calls.

• You’re driving.
• In a meeting.
• Talking to a customer.
• Working on-site.
• Having lunch.
• Or simply busy.

The problem is that missed calls often mean missed opportunities.

For some businesses, one missed enquiry could mean hundreds or even thousands of pounds walking straight out of the door.

We wanted to see whether AI had finally reached the point where it could genuinely help businesses handle calls professionally without the huge cost of additional reception staff.

Honestly? I think we’re there.

We’re Already Running It Live For G12

Rather than just reading about it or watching demos online, we decided to build a live version ourselves.

We now have “Emily” answering calls for G12 Business Networking.

People can ring her up and ask about:

• Networking events
• Memberships
• Business referrals
• Upcoming breakfasts
• General enquiries

The really clever part is what happens after the call.

The system can automatically:

• Send transcripts by email
• Summarise enquiries
• Categorise leads
• Identify caller intent
• Escalate urgent calls
• Operate 24/7

We’ve connected the whole thing into automation systems so the process feels seamless.

This isn’t About Replacing People and that’s an important point.

It’s about helping businesses:

• stop missing calls
• reduce pressure on teams
• handle out-of-hours enquiries
• capture more leads
• improve response times

For many SMEs, employing a full-time receptionist simply isn’t practical financially.

An AI receptionist gives businesses another option.

The Best Part? It’s Completely Bespoke

One of the things I really like about this technology is that it can be tailored around the business.

This isn’t a generic robot reading a fixed script.

The AI can be trained around:

• your services
• your tone of voice
• your FAQs
• your opening hours
• your booking process
• your lead qualification questions
• your industry terminology

Whether you’re:

• a garage
• estate agent
• clinic
• trades business
• hospitality venue
• solicitor
• accountant
• networking organisation

…the AI can be customised around the exact type of calls you receive.

The Technology Has Moved Fast

I’ll be honest — even 12 months ago I probably wouldn’t have recommended this.

But the pace of AI development right now is extraordinary.

Modern AI reception systems can now:

• understand natural speech
• handle interruptions
• maintain context during conversations
• route enquiries intelligently
• integrate with calendars and CRMs
• operate continuously without breaks

Businesses across the UK are increasingly adopting AI reception technology to reduce missed calls and improve customer responsiveness.

Want To Try It?

If you’d like to experience it for yourself, we’re happy to arrange a live demo.

In fact, we actively encourage people to test it properly and have a real conversation with the AI.

The reactions so far have been fascinating.

Some people are genuinely shocked when they realise they’ve been talking to AI.

And that probably tells you how far the technology has already come.

If you’d like to know more about how an AI receptionist could work for your business, get in touch with us at Gleave Media.

I think this is going to become a very normal part of business over the next few years.