AiThority Interview with Lyle Pratt, CEO & Founder at Vida

Lyle Pratt, CEO & Founder at Vida chats about Vida’s new AI voice agent’s features, while discussing the top benefits of AI-powered agents in this AiThority story:

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Hi Lyle, tell us about yourself and the inspiration behind Vida.

I’ve been building software startups since high school, including BetterVoice.com, which was acquired by Inteliquent. During my time at Sinch/Inteliquent, I saw firsthand how LLMs were poised to transform the telecom industry. Vida was born out of the recognition that many traditional UCaaS and IVR (interactive voice response) systems—many of which I had helped build over the past decade—would soon need to evolve rapidly with the explosive growth in AI capabilities. I left Sinch to co-found Vida with two trusted partners: Noah Hayes, an experienced multi-startup founder previously at Google’s AI venture firm Gradient Ventures, and Brandon Robinson, also an experienced startup founder whom I met and worked with at Sinch.

Also Read: Balancing Speed and Safety When Implementing a New AI Service

How is Vida’s new AI voice agent solutions a big enabler for SMBs today?

Vida’s new AI voice agents are a game-changer for SMBs, integrating the latest in AI-driven voice technology to bring enterprise-grade capabilities to smaller businesses. With these AI voice agents, SMBs can now access advanced, customizable solutions that streamline essential functions—like appointment scheduling, lead qualification, sales inquiries, and order processing—at an affordable price. For independent professionals and small teams, such as local plumbers and salon owners, this means automating routine tasks that previously required a live representative, allowing them to stay focused on their core business.

Historically, these voice agent solutions were exclusive to large companies due to their high cost, complexity, and rigid, decision-tree-based frameworks. Vida’s integration of recent AI advancements, like OpenAI’s real-time API, changes the game by enabling powerful, adaptable, and user-friendly solutions specifically tailored to SMB needs. With Vida, small businesses can manage inbound calls, qualify leads, and handle customer inquiries seamlessly—without the prohibitive costs of traditional systems.

When it comes to AI-powered voice agents, what are some of the key trends you are observing?

One of the biggest trends we’re seeing in AI-powered voice agents is the shift toward real-time responsiveness and emotionally expressive, contextual understanding. Unlike traditional IVR systems, today’s AI agents can engage in more natural, dynamic conversations, with features like automatic interruption handling, tone modulation and even laughter. This enables smoother, more personalized interactions that mimic human conversation.

As with most technology, we’re also seeing a greater emphasis on accessibility and affordability, which is especially valuable for smaller businesses. Thanks to rapid advancements in LLMs and real-time APIs, AI-powered voice agents are becoming much more attainable for SMBs, offering enterprise-grade capabilities at a fraction of the cost.

What should new adopters of this technology keep in mind when setting it up and integrating it across their platforms?

At Vida, we encourage our users to treat onboarding an AI phone agent like onboarding a new employee. Just as you would with a new hire, you need to provide the AI with clear instructions, access to necessary systems, and ongoing monitoring. The agent’s effectiveness depends on having well-defined instructions and goals. This includes sharing up-to-date resources like FAQs or website content, and tailoring its text-to-speech voice and communication style to match your brand. Refining these elements will create a more personalized and engaging customer experience.

Also Read: The AI Landscape: Technology Stack and Challenges

What about the latest in B2B SaaS AI is piquing your interest most and what thoughts do you have for the future of this space?

What excites me most in the B2B SaaS AI space is the rapid evolution of real-time AI capabilities, particularly around personalization, contextual understanding and digital payments. Vida’s AI voice agents already support various payment methods including Bitcoin transactions via the Lightning Network. Soon, traditional payment methods will be supported and AI agents will facilitate seamless, secure transactions across a broader range of payment options. We’re seeing B2B AI tools become more specialized, integrating deeply with industry-specific workflows including CRMs and digital payment systems. This evolution allows us to go beyond basic AI-powered automation, facilitating more complex and meaningful customer interactions.

Looking to the future, I believe AI will become integral to business processes, automating not just routine tasks but also optimizing decisions based on real-time customer data. We’ll likely see a convergence between AI and CRM systems, where AI agents continually refine their responses and adapt based on customer data, preferences and payment history. This will enhance efficiency while providing customers with a more personalized and seamless experience.

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