In 848 test calls, 1 in 3 San Francisco shops talked to an AI agent

In October 2026, during Tech Week, the startup Voygr used AI agents to make 848 phone calls to small businesses in San Francisco. Voygr makes a map tool that rivals Google Maps. The agents asked basic questions, such as the price of the cheapest haircut. About 1 in 3 persons stayed on the line after they heard that an AI agent spoke.

What the test showed

Vets and dentists were most likely to stay on the phone. Dry cleaners and bars were most likely to hang up. 1 in 25 of the businesses had an AI agent that answered calls.

What owners say

Colleen Booth of Lazy Bear Restaurant Group says no agent has booked a table at its three restaurants. She says agents get stuck at payment and send the same reply again. Jason Ford of the bike shop The New Wheel says the agents reply quickly, but they do not name their maker.

What is not known

The source gives no data on how many calls gave a result. The Voygr founders say the test was to try their software and its map. Mastercard says about 96% of small businesses earn less than $1 million a year.

Insight: Both ends of the phone call are now a market

AI firms came to Booth to sell software that answers calls, and one booked a large party to win the sale. Pax8 says 9 in 10 small businesses use AI, but only 23% have a written policy. This reads as vendors that sell agents to the caller and to the receiver, and small shops can pay to receive calls that agents make. Shops with no written policy have no rule for these calls.