A Google Voice AI receptionist from an auto attendant
A Google Voice auto attendant sends callers to a Cartesia agent's number, so the agent answers as your Google Voice AI receptionist and hands callers to staff.
Front-line agent
Answers calls from the auto attendant and passes the rest to your team.
Instructions
Answer session times, subjects offered and holiday schedules. Transfer pricing and enrollment to the enrollment lead's Google Voice number, and named requests to that tutor's number.
- Handoff
- Google Voice team number
Connected tools
- Transfer to Google VoiceTransfer
What a Google Voice AI voice agent can do
Open one to watch a call. The grey lines are the tools the agent calls mid-sentence.
An auto attendant with Transfer caller set to a phone number passes every call to its Voice number on to the agent.
The agent answers what parents ask most, such as session times and holiday schedules, and ends the call without a transfer.
Callers who ask for someone go to a Google Voice user's number, such as a director or a front desk user.
Google Voice settings
These are the Admin console settings for an auto attendant that hands calls to the agent.
- Where
- Admin console, Menu, Apps, Google Workspace, Google Voice, Auto attendants.
- Call handling
- Transfer caller, with Transfer type set to Phone number.
- Plan
- Voice Standard or Voice Premier.
- Role
- Google Voice Admin.
- Hours
- Edit Business Hours sets Customized hours and an After hours action.
Set it up
A phone hand-off. A Google Voice auto attendant transfers callers to the agent's number. There is no SIP trunk between Google Voice and Cartesia. Vendor details read in November 2026.
Give the agent a number
Import a number from Twilio or connect a SIP trunk number. Transfers work only on Twilio and SIP trunk numbers, not on Cartesia numbers.
Create an auto attendant
In the Admin console, go to Menu, Apps, Google Workspace, Google Voice, then Auto attendants, and click Create. Give it a Voice number that isn't assigned to a user.
Transfer callers to the agent
In Call handling, click Transfer caller, set Transfer type to Phone number, enter the agent's number, then preview and publish the attendant.
Set the way back and test
Add a transfer rule in Cartesia to a Google Voice user's number. Call the attendant's number, reach the agent, and ask for a person.
Before you build
Use an attendant, not a linked number
Google says forwarding a Google Voice number to an automated system is unsupported, and points to an auto attendant instead. Don't add the agent as a linked number.
Send callers to a user, not the attendant
Transfer back to a Google Voice user's number. The attendant's own number would send the caller straight back to the agent.
Use cases for teams on Google Voice
More integrations
Enterprise-grade security
HIPAA compliant
SOC 2 Type 2
GDPR
Google Voice AI voice agent FAQs
Does Google Voice have an AI receptionist?
Google Voice call handling includes an auto attendant that plays a menu and transfers callers. To add a conversational receptionist, the auto attendant's Transfer caller action sends callers to a Cartesia agent's phone number. Google Voice has no built-in Cartesia connection, so it's a phone transfer.
Can I use my own AI agent with Google Voice?
Yes, through an auto attendant. Google says forwarding a Voice number to an automated system is unsupported, so don't add the agent as a linked number. Use the attendant's Transfer caller action instead. A Cartesia agent calls webhook tools you define in your own systems and uses the voice and model you choose.
How do I forward Google Voice calls to an AI agent?
In the Admin console, go to Menu, Apps, Google Workspace, Google Voice, then Auto attendants, and click Create. In Call handling, click Transfer caller, set Transfer type to Phone number and enter the agent's number. You need Voice Standard or Voice Premier and the Google Voice Admin role.
Can the agent transfer callers back to Google Voice?
Yes, to a Google Voice user's number. Don't use the attendant's own number, which would send the caller straight back to the agent. Transfers work only on Twilio and SIP trunk numbers, not on Cartesia numbers.
Who bills the minutes on a Google Voice transfer?
Cartesia charges $0.03/min, plus LLM usage and telephony, and Twilio or your SIP carrier bills the agent's number. Transfers work only on Twilio and SIP trunk numbers, not on Cartesia numbers.
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