AI agent cold-called 1000+ SF businesses: only 1 in 3 talked, 1 in 25 were answered by AI
Evening_Hawk_7470 · reddit · 2026-10-15
VOYGR (YC W26) had an AI agent cold-call 1000+ San Francisco businesses, disclosing it was an AI upfront. Only 1 in 3 kept talking (vets 79%, dentists 61%, bars and dry cleaners 20%); most hung up after 5 seconds. About 1 in 25 businesses already had AI answering their phones — including bot-asks-bot-to-say-'zebra' moments. 94% of answering SF dentists were taking new patients. Takeaway: small businesses hang up as soon as they hear 'AI'.
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