Enterprise Voice AI That Actually Works episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 1, 2026 · 15 MIN

Enterprise Voice AI That Actually Works

from What's Up with Tech? · host Evan Kirstel

Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected] zero to reach a human should not be the default plan. We talk with Fred Fontes CEO from Acclaim about what’s finally making enterprise voice-first AI work in the real world, especially inside regulated industries like banking and financial services where compliance, auditability, and data security are not negotiable. For teams burned by old IVR trees and brittle chatbots, the conversation gets practical fast: what has changed in the underlying models, and what has to change in how we deploy and control them.We dig into the idea of sovereignty and why many CIOs and CTOs feel trapped between the need to innovate and the risk of sending sensitive customer data through multiple third-party clouds. Fred explains how controllable voice AI agents, strong guardrails, and enterprise-grade orchestration can turn “cool demos” into dependable contact center automation. We also get into domain-specific benchmarking, because a universal speech-to-text score does not matter if you cannot accurately transcribe a noisy telephony call about banking topics.Then we go beneath the hood on outcomes: banking collections use cases showing six to eight percentage points higher recovery rates, the ability to A/B test messaging quickly, and why interaction costs can drop dramatically when conversations are faster, more accurate, and handled in parallel. We also talk about the human side, shifting agents toward higher-value customer experience work, and the hardest obstacle left: integration with systems of record and enterprise workflows.If you’re building or buying conversational AI, listen closely, share this with a teammate who owns CX or security, and subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what your biggest blocker is to deploying voice AI at scale.Support the showMore at https://linktr.ee/EvanKirstel

Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected] Pressing zero to reach a human should not be the default plan. We talk with Fred Fontes CEO from Acclaim about what’s finally making enterprise voice-first AI work in the real world, especially inside regulated industries like banking and financial services where compliance, auditability, and data security are not negotiable. For teams burned by old IVR trees and brittle chatbots, the conversation gets practical fast: what has cha...

NOW PLAYING

Enterprise Voice AI That Actually Works

0:00 15:59

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding That Hoarder Hoarding disorder is stigmatised and people who hoard feel vast amounts of shame. This podcast began life as an audio diary, an anonymous outlet for somebody with this weird condition. That Hoarder speaks about her experiences living with compulsive hoarding, she interviews therapists, academics, researchers, children of hoarders, professional organisers and influencers, and she shares insight and tips for others with the problem. Listened to by people who hoard as well as those who love them and those who work with them, Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder aims to shatter the stigma, share the truth and speak openly and honestly to improve lives. The Small Business Startup School – Business Notes | Financial Literacy | Retail Psychology – For Professionals & Entrepreneurs The Small Business Startup School Inc. Starting or buying a small business? While personal circumstances may vary, business patterns remain timeless. On The Small Business Startup School, we explore strategies, insights, and practical solutions to help entrepreneurs confidently navigate their journey.Hosted by Ola Williams—a retail entrepreneur, fintech founder, and financial coach with over two decades of experience—this podcast marries financial awareness and retail psychology with optimism to deliver actionable takeaways.Join us to learn, grow, and connect as we uncover the keys to business success.Let’s continue to learn together and be encouraged to keep on connecting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What's Up with Tech??

This episode is 15 minutes long.

When was this What's Up with Tech? episode published?

This episode was published on April 1, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected] zero to reach a human should not be the default plan. We talk with Fred Fontes CEO from Acclaim about what’s finally making enterprise voice-first AI work in the real world,...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this What's Up with Tech? episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!