Your AI Receptionist can now reply to incoming text messages from clients, leads, and collaborators, ensuring timely, consistent responses even when you’re unavailable.
You can choose to have it handle calls only, texts only, both, or exclude specific contacts entirely.
✅ Once enabled, your AI Text Receptionist will automatically reply to messages within your selected scope and use your shared Knowledge and business info for consistent responses.
💬 Enable your AI Text Receptionist
Step 1: Access your AI Receptionist settings
Open the Beside app on your phone.
Go to the Settings tab.
In the Phone section, tap AI Receptionist.
Select the Text Messages tab at the top of the screen.
Step 2: Turn it on
Toggle Reply to Text Messages on.
When active, the Text Messages icon shows a green indicator, and the related settings appear below.
Step 3: Adjust who your AI replies to
Under Replies to Text from Everyone, choose your preferred audience:
Everyone: your AI Receptionist replies to all incoming texts.
Only known contacts: only people saved in your contact list.
Only unknown contacts: ideal for new leads or first-time texters.
You can also tap Exclude Contacts to pick people who should bypass your AI Receptionist and reach you directly.
🎨 Customize your Text AI Receptionist's signature
Under Response Style, tap Signature to customize how your AI signs off.
For example: “– Sent by Bobby’s AI Receptionist”
ℹ️ If you're on a Business plan, the signature applies per Inbox, so all outgoing messages from that Inbox will include it.
✅ Once enabled, your AI Text Receptionist will automatically reply to messages within your selected scope.
✨ What my AI Text Receptionist can do
Smart, instant replies to incoming texts
Shared knowledge base with your AI Receptionist
Book meetings directly on your calendar (if connected) - 📖 Learn more here.
📝 Switching to manual replies
Want to take over a conversation yourself? Simply reply manually in the chat.
When you do, your AI Text Receptionist automatically pauses its replies in that conversation for 24 hours, this prevents overlapping or duplicated responses while you’re handling things personally.
After 24 hours, your AI will only resume if that contact sends a new incoming message.
❓ FAQ
Does it work with my current AI Receptionist setup?
Yes! It uses the same knowledge and preferences you've already configured.
Does it replace the AI Receptionist for calls?
No, they work side-by-side. The AI Receptionist handles calls, while the Text Receptionist handles texts.
Can it schedule appointments?
Yes! The AI Text Receptionist can book meetings directly on your calendar, just like the AI Call Receptionist. Make sure you've connected your calendar in the Beside app settings to enable this feature.
Can I set a delay before it replies?
Not yet. The AI Receptionist replies instantly, but flexible timing options are in development.
Can I turn it off?
Yes. You can disable it entirely from Settings → AI Receptionist → Text Messages, or manage it per contact from any chat by tapping the AI Receptionist icon next to the message composer.
Can the AI Text Receptionist automatically send text replies after calls or missed calls?
Not yet. Currently, the AI Text Receptionist only responds to incoming text messages. Automatic replies triggered by calls or missed calls are not supported. The development team is aware of the demand for this capability and is actively working on expanding AI text functionality.