BT Business on October 1, 2026 launched AI from BT, a portfolio of what the company describes as practical and secure AI solutions for UK businesses, headlined by an AI Receptionist that answers calls 24/7 and a free AI Adoption Hub. The telecoms group said the launch targets an estimated £3.7 billion in annual revenue that UK small businesses lose through missed calls.
What BT launched
BT said AI from BT is aimed at firms held back by what it called the complexity, uncertainty and security concerns around adopting AI. The portfolio's first product is AI Receptionist, which BT said helps businesses manage customer enquiries around the clock and ensure they never miss another call.
Alongside it, BT is launching a free AI Adoption Hub that the company said provides practical guides, prompt packs, expert insights and real-world examples of businesses using AI.
According to BT, AI Receptionist answers calls 24/7 and handles routine enquiries, schedules appointments, sends confirmations and integrates with Outlook and Google Calendar. The company said it also captures and transcribes conversations, generates insights from customer interactions, learns from business information and offers customisable voice and accent options.
Availability and security claims
BT said AI Receptionist is available on flexible contracts and can be set up quickly through a self-service portal, so businesses can start using AI with minimal technical expertise.
The company said the service works across any UK fixed or mobile network and lets businesses keep their existing number without changing or replacing their phone system. BT added that it is built with security in mind, with customer data remaining private and not used to train AI models.
BT said it is targeting sectors where incoming calls are an important route to bookings or new work, listing trades and field-based businesses, estate agents, healthcare and professional practices, legal and financial services, retailers, and pubs, restaurants and hospitality businesses. The launch is backed by what BT described as a major above-the-line advertising campaign spanning television, video-on-demand, radio, digital audio, podcast sponsorships, social, out-of-home and in pub activations.
The research behind the £3.7bn figure
BT said new research found that 65% of small business owners believe AI could significantly benefit their business, while 56% say they are not yet realising its full potential. More than two thirds, 67%, said that on an average day they miss at least one call they believe results in losing business.
On consumer behaviour, BT said 75% of potential customers will give businesses three call attempts before giving up on them, and 58% of respondents said they would tell friends and family to avoid businesses that failed to pick up. BT also said 58% of small and medium-sized businesses spend between 30 minutes and two hours a day answering customer phone calls, and 85% say this interrupts their ability to complete other work.
The research was commissioned from Censuswide, with 1,500 decision makers aged 25+ at UK SMEs surveyed between 23 and 28 September 2026 and 2,000 UK adults surveyed between 23 and 25 September 2026. BT's own methodology note said the total loss estimate came to £3.67bn a year, or approximately £71m a week, adding that the figure is based on respondents' own estimates and is indicative. For businesses with 50 to 249 employees, BT said respondents reported implausibly low losses relative to turnover, so it applied the 10–49 band's share of turnover instead of their answers.
What BT says
Jon James, CEO of BT Business, said: "AI has the potential to be a huge boost to small businesses and to drive the UK's growth, but many businesses are struggling to know how to begin and how to adopt simply and securely."
He added that AI Receptionist is the first step in the journey, helping businesses capture every opportunity, reduce admin and deliver responsive, personalised service around the clock, while keeping their customer data protected.
Michelle Ovens, CEO and Founder of Small Business Britain, said in BT's announcement: "AI can be an incredible help, and when utilised correctly, it is a cost-effective and fast way of managing the front line of customer service."
What to do
- BT says AI Receptionist can be set up through a self-service portal on flexible contracts, with no need to change or replace an existing phone system or number.
- BT points businesses to its free AI Adoption Hub for guides, prompt packs and examples, and to business.bt.com/ai-for-business for more information on AI from BT.
Key facts and where they come from
- BT Business launched AI from BT, a portfolio of AI solutions for UK businesses, on October 1, 2026.
BT Business today launched AI from BT, a new portfolio of practical and secure solutions designed to help UK businesses adopt AI with confidence and drive UK growth.
- BT says its research estimates UK small businesses lose £3.7 billion a year through missed calls.
UK small businesses lose £3.7 billion a year through missed calls, while 67% miss at least one potentially valuable call on an average day
- AI Receptionist integrates with Outlook and Google Calendar for appointment management.
Schedules appointments, sends confirmations and integrates with Outlook and Google Calendar
- BT says customer data stays private and is not used to train AI models.
is built with security in mind, with customer data remaining private and not used to train AI models
- The service works on any UK fixed or mobile network and keeps existing numbers.
It works across any UK fixed or mobile network, allowing businesses to keep their existing number without changing or replacing their phone system
- 65% of small business owners believe AI could significantly benefit their business; 56% say they are not realising its full potential.
almost two thirds of small business owners (65%) believe AI could significantly benefit their business, more than half (56%) say they are not yet realising its full potential
- BT also launched a free AI Adoption Hub with guides and prompt packs.
BT is also launching a free AI Adoption Hub. The Hub provides practical guides, prompt packs, expert insights, and real-world examples of businesses using AI
- The £3.67bn estimate relies on respondents' own figures and is described as indicative.
Total: £3.67bn a year, or approximately £71m a week. The figure is based on respondents’ own estimates and is indicative.