What is an AI receptionist and how does it work?

An AI receptionist is a phone-based system that answers inbound calls, understands what the caller wants in normal language, and completes front-desk tasks like capturing details, routing calls, and booking appointments. It works by recognizing speech, interpreting intent, and then taking an action (answering an FAQ, logging a message, scheduling, or transferring the call) based on your business rules and connected tools like calendars/CRMs.