4 Steps to Build Your Own AI Answering Service + Expert Tips

AI technology is changing how businesses handle phone calls—fast. From AI call answering services to AI virtual receptionists, the options a vailable today are powerful, scalable, and increasingly affordable. But should you build your own AI phone answering system, or buy a ready-made solution?

That’s what we’ll help you decide in this guide.

Whether you're a small business owner exploring automation or a tech-savvy entrepreneur eager to experiment, I'll share clear, practical advice with zero fluff. Why trust us? We've spent the last year building our very own AI phone answering service for American businesses. We know what the best practices are, what to avoid, and what are some things you're not going to find mentioned somewhere else.

So let's start by looking at what is an AI answering service!

What Is an AI Answering Service?

An AI answering service uses artificial intelligence to handle incoming calls just like a human would. It listens, understands, and responds to callers using natural-sounding voice AI. These tools can answer FAQs, route calls, schedule appointments, and more, 24/7.

Unlike traditional voicemail or even live virtual receptionist services, AI phone answering services don’t take breaks, miss calls, or fumble details. They’re trained to consistently deliver polite, accurate responses.

Benefits of an AI Answering Service

1. You'll never miss a call again
2. You can respond instantly to any inquiry about your business
3. Your team will have more time to focus on their core job focus
4. You can scale your answering service needs easily as your business grows

Step 1: Choose How to Build Your AI Answering Service

Before anything else, decide which path fits your business:

My expert tip on decided whether you should build your own AI Answering Service:

If your business needs are standard (answer FAQs, route calls, take messages), a ready-made AI receptionist is usually the smart move. If you're in a niche industry or want full control over functionality, building your own is worth exploring.

Step 2: Building Your AI Answering Service From Scratch (The Smart Way!!)

If you decide to build your own AI phone answering system, don’t reinvent the wheel. That's probably my best piece of advice on that. I recommend you to leverage open-source tools that offer top-tier performance (that way you can avoid the licensing fees).

Here's what your "AI Receptionist" stack should look like:

1. Speech-to-Text (STT)

   Converts caller voice to text
   Suggested tool to use: Whisper
   
   

2. AI Logic Engine

   Understands caller intent and decides the right response
   Suggested tool to use: Vicuna, Mistral, GPT-based open models
   
   

3. Text-to-Speech (TTS)

   Converts AI’s response back into lifelike speech
   Suggested tool to use: Bark

These tools are often free to use and widely supported. Assemble them, and you’ve built the brain of your AI virtual receptionist!

Step 3: Having a Prototype Ready For Testing!

Instead of spending months perfecting your AI, focus on building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Trust me when I say that you can get caught in the weeds working on code for months. Your time is more valuable than that. Instead, focus on getting

Here’s the simple setup we talked about before for you to launch fast:

How Much Will Building Your Own AI Phone Answering Service Cost You?

That means you can build your first AI answering service prototype for under $150/month. That's cheaper than hiring even one part-time human receptionist!

Step 4: Understand the Time and Cost Needed for Training and Maintenance

Yes, DIY AI phone answering services are powerful. But they come with real responsibilities. In my experience setting up our AI answering service, here are some figures that will help you:

• Setup Time: 20–30 hours minimum (they can be a lot more depending on how complicated your "AI Receptionist" stack is!!)
• Ongoing Maintenance: A few hours a week (Weekly time for QA and script tuning)
• Scaling Costs: Hosting and API usage can grow as call volume increases
• Training Needs: You’ll need to script common conversations and test them extensively

Bonus: Things You'll Need to Track That Your AI Answering Service Does!

• Call accuracy
• Response timing
• Caller frustration triggers
• Fallback flows (when AI doesn’t understand)

So, Should You Build or Buy Or Your AI Answering Service?

Here's the real question: Do you want to become an AI call engineer, or do you just want your calls answered professionally right now?

If your goal is to:

• Get set up fast
• Avoid the technical learning curve
• Ensure a great caller experience from day one

…then buying a pre-built AI answering service like the one from Ambs Call Center is probably your best bet.

We have been answering phones for American businesses since 1932 with our friendly, human answering service agents. Our AI answering service doesn't sacrifice our human-first approach that's earned us customer service awards through the years. That's why you can customize your AI answering service with us to take an AI-assisted answering service approach (AI answers first and may bring humans in the mix for certain calls) or a human-assisted answering service (humans answer first and may bring AI into the mix for certain calls).

Our plans start from only $19/mo!

Comparison of Building Your AI Answering Service VS Buying it Ready-Made

What to Note Before You Buy/Build Your AI Answering Service

• AI answering services are real, affordable, and powerful tools for modern businesses
• You can either build your own with open-source tools or buy ready-made solutions
• Building your own offers flexibility but requires time, skill, and ongoing work
• Ready-made solutions like Ambs Call Center’s AI receptionist offer convenience and reliability
• Be realistic: Your time is valuable. Choose what fits your goals

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About AI Answering Services

What is an AI phone answering service?

It’s a voice-driven AI tool that picks up calls, understands caller intent, and responds or routes the call—just like a real receptionist.

Is an AI receptionist better than a live person?

In many ways, especially for basic tasks, yes. It’s available 24/7, efficient, and is highly scalable. But for high-touch conversations, a human-touch may still be better. It really depends on your needs which is why we recommend reaching out to your provider first before making a decision either way.

What if the AI doesn’t understand the caller?

Good AI answering systems include fallback paths like call transfer to a live person, voicemail, or asking the caller to repeat their question differently.

How much does it cost to run an AI virtual receptionist?

DIY options start around $100–$150/month. Professional AI virtual receptionists like Ambs Call Center are competitively priced and start at only $19/mo—which is much lower of an overhead for busy business owners.

Ready to Save Time and Impress Callers?

Ambs Call Center’s AI-assisted answering service is ready when you are. Built with over a year of training, it gives your business a polished, always-on virtual receptionist—without any of the hassle of DIY development.

Educational Resources:

What is an AI answering service?

Are AI answering services worth it?

AI answering service vs Phone answering service

Are AI answering services right for your business?

AI Answering Services 101 (Everything You Need to Know!!)