This is useful when you want to personally handle conversations with key clients, collaborators, or simply allow friends and family to reach you directly.
You can define:
Global rules for who the AI Receptionist should handle (for calls and texts separately)
Individual exceptions for specific contacts
Step 1️⃣ : Choose who your AI Receptionist should handle
You can define the audience for calls and texts independently.
📞 A. Calls = Who your AI Receptionist answers missed calls from
Go to Settings → Your inbox → AI Receptionist → Phone Calls tab (next to General) → Missed From and choose:
Everyone: the AI Receptionist answers all missed calls.
Unsaved numbers: Only new or unknown callers are handled by the AI Receptionist. Saved contacts bypass the AI Receptionist.
Contacts: Only saved contacts are handled by the AI Receptionist. Unknown numbers go directly to the Beside voicemail if you miss the call.
💁 If a caller is outside your selected scope:
If you miss a call and the caller doesn’t match your chosen audience, your AI Receptionist will not answer. Instead, the call is sent to your Beside voicemail, ensuring no call is ever lost.
💬 B. Texts = Who your AI Receptionist replies to
Go to Settings → Your inbox → AI Receptionist → Text Messages Calls tab (next to General) → Missed From and choose:
Everyone: the AI Receptionist answers all incoming texts.
Unsaved numbers: Only saved contacts receive AI Receptionist text replies.
Contacts: Ideal for handling new leads or first-time texters. Saved contacts will not receive automated replies.
Step 2️⃣ : Exclude specific contacts (calls, texts, or both)
In addition to the global settings above, you can create exceptions for individual contacts.
This is useful when you want to personally handle conversations with VIP clients, collaborators, or personal contacts.
How to exclude a contact
Open the conversation with that contact in the Beside app
Tap the AI Receptionist icon above the message composer
Toggle off:
Answers calls → AI Receptionist won’t answer missed calls from this contact
Replies to texts → AI Receptionist won’t send automated replies
These settings override your global call/text scopes for that specific person only.
💡 From the same menu, you can also disable call recording for that contact. Learn more here.
🧠 How scopes and exclusions work together
Call scope controls who the AI Receptionist should answer when you miss a call
Text scope defines who receives automated text replies
Individual exclusions override both scopes
Beside Voicemail automatically covers calls not handled by the AI
Call and text behaviors are independent
💡 Examples of common setups
Lead-focused setup
Calls: AI Receptionist handles unsaved numbers
Texts: AI Receptionist replies to unknown contacts only
Exclude VIP clients so you answer them personally
Personal + business mix
Calls: Everyone
Texts: Everyone
Exclude family and friends