FAQ

No, they're not expensive. AI agents cost less than traditional software and far less than human employees. That's the whole point—reducing costs while increasing productivity.

When you hire Norfolk AI, you're getting a complete voice-first AI system created and maintained by our team of human engineers and conversation specialists. These agents become your team's productivity superpower—filtering and qualifying both customer service requests and sales opportunities so your people focus on what matters.

Here's what's included:

• Voice-first AI agents configured for your specific needs
• Full CRM integration and system setup
• Dedicated account management from real people who optimize your agents
• Ongoing improvements as your AI learns and our specialists refine performance
• The ability to scale from one agent to multiple agents working individually or coordinating as a group

We structure it simply: a one-time setup fee and predictable monthly fees with a 12-month commitment. This covers your entire relationship with Norfolk AI, whether you need one agent booking appointments or several agents handling different tasks—like one qualifying leads while another manages support tickets, or multiple agents working together on complex customer journeys.

"AI agents handle the volume so humans handle the value. Your best people get more time to succeed and excel at what only they can do."

The investment varies based on complexity. A single agent filtering routine inquiries? That's our entry point. Two or more agents qualifying opportunities and routing only the best ones to your closers? That's where the real transformation happens.

Most companies save 70-90% compared to human staffing costs while their teams achieve more than ever before.

Let's talk specifics. Schedule a consultation and we'll show you exactly what Norfolk AI can do for your business—and what it costs to get there.

It's straightforward—you're hiring AI agents, not buying software. Here's how Norfolk AI gets to work for you:

1. Initial Consultation & Custom Proposal We'll discuss your specific needs and create a tailored proposal based on:

• How many concurrent agents you need
• Which capabilities does each agent require (appointment booking, call routing, lead qualification, etc.)?
• Language requirements (we support up to 32 languages)
• Your expected call volume and conversation complexity

You'll see transparent pricing with a one-time setup fee and monthly service fees for a 12-month initial term.

2. Discovery & Configuration Our conversation specialists work with you to define:

• Exactly which roles Norfolk AI will handle
• How agents will work together (if you need multiple)
• Your brand voice and communication standards
• Integration requirements with your existing systems

3. Knowledge Base & System Integration We build your AI agents' expertise while our engineers connect to:

• Your CRM (standard integrations included)
• Calendar and email systems
• Phone system via Twilio (or your preferred provider)
• Any custom APIs or databases you need

All your data stays yours and is hosted securely on Microsoft Azure with SOC 2, GDPR, and HIPAA compliance available.

4. Testing & Optimization: Your agents undergo rigorous testing in a controlled environment. Want ongoing innovation? Add our Development Lab option, a parallel testing environment where you can experiment with new capabilities without affecting live operations.

5. Launch & Continuous Improvement Once live, your dedicated Norfolk AI team continuously optimizes performance. Your agents get smarter every day, while our engineers and conversation specialists ensure they're delivering results.

"Most implementations are handling real conversations within 2-4 weeks. Complex enterprise integrations may take longer, but we always hit our committed dates."

Ready to hire AI that works? Yes.  Let's go ahead and get started.

No - they don't. They sound like AI agents—which is exactly what they are.

Let's be clear: Our agents sound far superior to those nightmare phone trees and chatbots, but they're not trying to mimic human representatives. And that's the point.

Callers will know they're talking to AI within seconds. What they'll also notice is that the conversation actually works. Our agents listen, respond intelligently, and handle complex requests without getting confused.

What makes Norfolk AI different: We take prompt engineering and voice engines very seriously. Our prompts are comprehensive and complex compared to other voice AI companies, which means your agents:

• Handle more complex situations independently
• Solve problems rather than just answer basic questions
• Navigate multi-step conversations without losing context
• Work 24/7/365, extending your team's reach

The warm transfer capability: When specialized human expertise is needed, our agents perform a warm transfer. The AI briefs your team member about the conversation before connecting them—what's been discussed, what the issue is, and what the customer needs. Your team arrives prepared, the customer feels valued, and everyone's time is used efficiently.

"Our AI agents handle the volume so your human experts handle the value. Together, they deliver exceptional service around the clock."

They'll occasionally mispronounce unusual names or pause before complex responses. Heavy accents can be challenging. But they provide consistent, professional service that gives your human team more time to excel at what only humans can do.

Want to hear Norfolk AI in action? Schedule a demo and experience how AI enhances your team's capabilities.

Your AI agents transfer to humans whenever requested—no questions asked.

When a caller asks for a human agent at any point in the conversation, Norfolk AI immediately honors that request. During business hours, they perform a warm transfer to your team. Outside business hours, they capture all details and ensure follow-up.

The warm transfer difference: Unlike traditional systems that just dump calls on your team, Norfolk AI agents provide a comprehensive briefing before connecting the human agent:

• Summary of what's been discussed
• The specific issue or opportunity at hand
• Key information already collected
• Sentiment analysis—is the caller frustrated, satisfied, or distressed?

Your team knows exactly what they're walking into. If someone's upset, they can lead with empathy. If someone's ready to buy, they can move straight to closing. No surprises, just prepared professionals delivering great service.

During business hours:

• Instant warm transfer when requested
• Full briefing including emotional context
• Zero repetition for the customer
• Your team hits the ground running

Outside business hours:

• Complete documentation of the conversation
• Immediate notification to your team
• Customer confirmation that a follow-up is coming
• Priority handling first thing next business day

"A simple note like 'customer is frustrated but appreciative' helps your team nail the tone from word one."

Smart routing between AI agents: Sometimes, the best next step is another specialized AI agent. Your general agent might transfer to your technical expert AI, keeping resolution times fast while respecting the caller's needs.

The result? Customers feel heard, your team arrives prepared, and service quality stays consistently high.

Yes. CRM integration is standard, not an add-on.

Norfolk AI connects seamlessly with major CRM systems like HubSpot, Salesforce, and GoHighLevel. But let's be honest: CRM integration is complex work. That's why we have dedicated API specialists who handle it.

How we architect it properly: We replicate your CRM data securely to our Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure. This means your AI agents work with synchronized data in the cloud rather than hitting your CRM directly every time. It's faster, more reliable, and more secure.

Before the call: Your AI agent pulls customer information using the incoming phone number or form email address—from our secure cloud copy. By the time they answer, they already know who's calling and their history.

During the call: Agents access additional information when needed through our cloud infrastructure. No delays, no direct hits to your CRM during conversations.

After the call—where the real value happens: Post-call processing synchronizes everything back:

• Automatic CRM updates with call outcomes
• New records for tickets or opportunities
• Sales pipeline updates
• Full conversation transcripts to designated fields
• AI-generated summaries that save hours of note-taking

"We handle CRM integration the right way—through secure cloud architecture. Your data stays private, your CRM stays responsive, and your agents stay fast."

Don't see your CRM listed? Our API specialists handle the complexity. They ensure proper data flow through our cloud infrastructure, and when needed, create custom APIs to deliver exactly what you need.

The bottom line is that professional CRM integration works because we built the infrastructure to do it right.

Companies using voice AI report significant, documented improvements across key metrics:

Operational efficiency:

• 30-45% reduction in service costs according to McKinsey
• 14% productivity boost for customer support agents using AI assistants (NBER study)
• Queue times reduced by up to 50% (IBM)
• 50% of calls automated, freeing staff for revenue-generating tasks
• 24/7/365 availability captures opportunities you're currently missing
• Handle 600K+ calls monthly without adding headcount

Revenue and ROI impact:

• Revenue increases of 3-15% reported by companies implementing AI (McKinsey)
• 331% ROI over three years, documented by Forrester for organizations using AI contact centers
• 97% of AI voice agent adopters report increased revenue (Vida SMB survey)
• Payback period of less than six months for most enterprises (Forrester)
• 60% boost in scheduling efficiency and 2.5x more booked appointments
• Cut no-show rates in half through automated reminders and confirmations

Cost reduction:

• 40% reduction in call center costs (IBM case studies)
• 20-30% reduction in operational costs for companies using AI-powered customer service (Netomi)
• Zero overtime costs with AI handling after-hours volume
• Eliminate hold times and waiting rooms forever
• Scale instantly based on volume without hiring or training delays

Customer satisfaction and quality:

• 30% rise in customer satisfaction after implementing Voice AI (IBM)
• AI agents have surpassed expectations and raised CSAT scores
• Qualify leads faster with immediate follow-up on high-intent prospects
• Consistent service quality across every interaction
• Complete call documentation eliminates disputes and improves accountability

"The math is straightforward: Handle more conversations, deliver better service, spend less doing it."

What this means for your business: Your human team focuses on high-value work while AI handles routine conversations. Customers get instant help. Nothing falls through the cracks. Operations scale without proportional cost increases.

These aren't projections—they're results companies are seeing today with voice AI implementations. The specific impact depends on your volume, complexity, and current operations.

Want to discuss what outcomes are realistic for your business? Let's talk specifics.

References

1. Retell AI. "AI Voice Agent ROI For Enterprise Communications." https://www.retellai.com/blog/ai-voice-agent-roi-enterprise-communications

2. Master of Code. "How Businesses Can Grow Their ROI With Virtual Assistants." November 14, 2024. https://masterofcode.com/blog/quantitative-breakdown-of-voice-assistants-roi-for-modern-enterprises

3. Plivo. "AI Agent Statistics for 2025: Adoption, ROI, Performance & More." May 21, 2025. https://www.plivo.com/blog/ai-agents-top-statistics/

4. Market.us. "Voice AI Agents Market Size, Share | CAGR of 34.8%." April 1, 2025. https://market.us/report/voice-ai-agents-market/

5. Creole Studios. "Top 10 AI Agent Useful Case Study Examples (2025)." June 11, 2025. https://www.creolestudios.com/real-world-ai-agent-case-studies/

6. WorkHub. "The Economic Impact of AI Voice Agents on Customer Support." September 3, 2024. https://workhub.ai/economic-impact-of-ai-voice-agents-on-customer-support/

7. UC Today. "Why AI Voice Could Get Companies the Coveted ROI on Their AI Investment." May 12, 2025. https://www.uctoday.com/unified-communications/why-ai-voice-could-get-companies-the-coveted-roi-on-their-ai-investment/

8. Master of Code. "150+ AI Agent Statistics [July 2025]." July 2025. https://masterofcode.com/blog/ai-agent-statistics

9. Opus Research. "Voice AI Agents Redefine CX: Trends, ROI, and Strategies for 2025." May 28, 2025. https://opusresearch.net/2025/05/19/voice-ai-agents-redefine-cx-trends-roi-and-strategies-for-2025/

10. Verloop. "30+ Voice AI Stats for 2025." February 19, 2025. https://www.verloop.io/blog/voice-ai-statistics/

11. Andreessen Horowitz. "AI Voice Agents: 2025 Update." March 7, 2025. https://a16z.com/ai-voice-agents-2025-update/

12. Salesforce. "What is an AI Voice Agent?" https://www.salesforce.com/service/call-center-integration/voice-ai-agent/

13. JustCall. "AI Voice Agents That Handle Calls Like Humans." November 20, 2024. https://justcall.io/product/ai-voice-agent/

14. Regal AI. "Voice AI Agent Platform." https://www.regal.ai/

15. Synthflow. "Automate phone calls with AI voice agents." https://synthflow.ai/

16. Lindy. "10 Best AI Voice Agents in 2025: Manually Tested & Reviewed." January 21, 2025. https://www.lindy.ai/blog/ai-voice-agents

17. Cognigy. "Voice AI Agents." https://www.cognigy.com/solutions/voice-ai-agents

18. Biz4Groups. "40+ AI Voice Agent Use Cases by Industry: Retail, Finance & More." April 15, 2025. https://www.biz4group.com/blog/ai-voice-agent-use-cases

19. Sierra. "Better customer experiences." https://sierra.ai/

20. Vodex. "Automate Calls with AI Voice Agents | Streamline Operations 24/7." https://www.vodex.ai/

Through intelligent data integration and our Super Conversations™ methodology, Norfolk AI personalizes every interaction.

Here's how personalization actually works:

Pre-call intelligence: Before your AI agent even answers, it pulls customer information using the incoming phone number or email address. By accessing your CRM data through our secure Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure, the agent knows who's calling and their complete history with your company.

Brand voice mastery: Our comprehensive prompt engineering ensures your agents speak exactly like your brand. We don't use simple scripts—our complex prompts enable agents to maintain your specific terminology, tone, and communication style throughout every conversation.

Real-time adaptation: Using our Super Conversations™ methodology, agents:

• Detect emotional cues and urgency levels
• Adjust their approach based on customer responses
• Navigate complex conversations without losing context
• Know when specialized knowledge or human expertise is needed

Best-in-class technology stack: Norfolk AI integrates cutting-edge technology from industry leaders, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Deepgram, OpenAI Whisper, ElevenLabs, Perplexity, Cursor, and others. This powerful combination enables:

• Natural language understanding that captures context and nuance
• Voice synthesis that sounds genuinely human
• Real-time speech recognition across multiple languages and accents
• Intelligent information retrieval for accurate, relevant responses
• Advanced AI-powered development and optimization capabilities

Secure data architecture: We replicate your CRM and database information to our Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure. This means:

• Your agents access data quickly without hitting your systems directly
• Customer information stays secure and private
• Real-time updates flow seamlessly between systems
• Our API specialists ensure everything works perfectly

Advanced personalization capabilities (Premium tier):

• Multi-agent coordination for complex customer journeys
• Historical conversation context across interactions
• Advanced behavioral tracking and preference learning
• Agent-to-agent transfers with full context preservation

"True personalization comes from understanding context, detecting sentiment, and adapting in real-time—not just reading from a customer file."

Post-call intelligence: After each conversation, Norfolk AI updates your CRM with full transcripts and AI-generated summaries, building richer customer profiles for future interactions.

Ready to deliver truly personalized customer experiences? Our business development team can design a custom solution for your specific needs.

Technology Partners

• OpenAI - https://openai.com/
• Anthropic - https://www.anthropic.com/
• Google - https://gemini.google.com/
• Deepgram - https://deepgram.com/
• ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io/
• Perplexity - https://www.perplexity.ai/
• Cursor - https://cursor.com/
• Microsoft Azure - https://azure.microsoft.com/

Norfolk AI agents excel at complex conversations through advanced reasoning and our Super Conversations™ methodology.

Here's how they manage challenging inquiries:

Multi-layered understanding: Our agents don't just match keywords—they understand context, intent, and nuance. Powered by leading AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, they can:

• Break down multi-part questions into components
• Maintain context throughout long conversations
• Recognize when questions have underlying issues
• Handle follow-up questions naturally

Deep knowledge integration: Each agent has instant access to your complete knowledge base through our Microsoft Azure infrastructure:

• Product details, pricing, and availability
• Company policies and procedures
• Historical customer interactions
• Current system data from your CRM

Intelligent problem-solving approach: When faced with complex questions, our agents:

1. Parse the entire question to understand all components
2. Access relevant information from multiple sources
3. Formulate comprehensive responses that address each point
4. Verify understanding before moving forward
5. Know when to bring in specialized help

Advanced capabilities (Premium tier):

• Agent-to-agent transfers: Seamlessly hand off to specialized AI agents with full context
• Conversation history access: Reference past interactions for deeper personalization
• Multi-step reasoning: Handle scenarios requiring sequential problem-solving
• Complex workflow automation: Execute multi-system processes while conversing

Real-world example: Customer: "I ordered three items last week, one arrived damaged, I want to return it but keep the others, and I have a coupon for my next order—can you help with all of this?"

Your AI agent identifies the order, initiates the return for the damaged item, confirms the other items are satisfactory, applies the coupon to the customer's account, and provides a return shipping label—all in one smooth conversation.

About complex integrations: Advanced operations like order tracking systems, credit card cancellations, or complex financial transactions are within our capabilities but require custom development work. These implementations need close collaboration with your IT team, who maintain control over API access and database security. Additional costs apply for this custom development.

The good news? Even with custom development, Norfolk AI remains cost-effective. Other voice AI companies carry expensive legacy overhead that gets passed to customers. In some markets, their solutions cost more than hiring human agents. We maintain lean operations and pass those savings along.

"Complex questions aren't obstacles—they're opportunities to demonstrate exceptional service."

Working together: For basic implementations, we handle most of the setup. For complex integrations involving sensitive systems, we work closely with your IT team to ensure security protocols are maintained while delivering the functionality you need.

Ready to see how Norfolk AI handles your most challenging customer scenarios? Schedule a consultation to explore solutions tailored to your business complexity.

References:

AI Model Providers:

• OpenAI GPT Models
• Anthropic Claude
• Google AI Models

Infrastructure & Integration:

• Microsoft Azure AI Services
• Azure Cognitive Services

AI Reasoning & Understanding:

• OpenAI Research on Reasoning
• Anthropic Constitutional AI
• Google AI Research

Voice AI Technology:

• Conversational AI Best Practices
• Microsoft Conversational AI

Additional Resources:

• Azure Bot Service Documentation
• AI Agent Architecture Patterns

Norfolk AI agents communicate fluently in 32+ languages, with expanded capabilities up to 150+ languages through our multi-platform approach, making your business truly global.

Powered by advanced voice technology from ElevenLabs, Cartesia, and Microsoft Azure, we offer the most comprehensive voice selection in the industry:

Core language support across all platforms (32 languages): English (USA, UK, Australia, Canada), Spanish (Spain, Mexico), French (France, Canada), Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Dutch, Turkish, Swedish, Filipino, Polish, Indonesian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia, UAE), Russian, Ukrainian, Greek, Czech, Finnish, Romanian, Danish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovak, Tamil, Malay, Hungarian, Norwegian, Vietnamese

Extended language support through Microsoft Azure (150+ languages): Including Albanian, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Mongolian, Nepali, Bosnian, Arabic variants (Lebanon, Oman), Tamil (Malaysia), multiple Chinese dialects (Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese), and many more regional variants.

Our comprehensive voice library:

• 5,000+ voices from ElevenLabs Voice Library
• 600+ neural voices from Microsoft Azure
• 130+ curated voices from Cartesia
• Professional voice cloning across all platforms
• Custom neural voices for unique brand identity

Platform-specific advantages:

ElevenLabs (32-74 languages depending on model):

• Eleven v3: 74 languages (latest model)
• Multilingual v2: 32 languages with emotional range
• Flash v2.5: 32 languages with 75ms ultra-low latency
• Community Voice Library with 5,000+ shared voices
• Professional and instant voice cloning
• Character limit: up to 40,000 characters per request

Cartesia (15 languages):

• Sonic model with 90ms latency
• Sonic 2.0 for enhanced quality
• Native support for 15 core languages
• Voice localization to any accent or language
• State Space Model architecture
• On-device deployment capabilities

Microsoft Azure (150+ languages):

• Azure Neural TTS: 600+ voices across 150+ languages
• HD voices with emotion detection
• Multi-talker conversational voices
• OpenAI voice integration
• SSML support for advanced customization
• Custom Neural Voice for brand-specific voices

Voice selection tailored to your needs:

Product Marketing Agents

• Enthusiastic, engaging voices that convey excitement
• Clear articulation for product features and benefits
• Available in male and female options across all languages
• Perfect for demonstrations and promotional calls
• Choose from thousands of voice options

Sales Representatives

• Confident, persuasive tones that build trust
• Warm and approachable personalities
• Voices that maintain energy throughout conversations
• Optimized for closing deals and qualifying leads
• Regional accent matching for local market appeal

Technical Support Representatives

• Calm, patient voices that reduce customer stress
• Clear, measured speech for complex explanations
• Reassuring tones that build confidence
• Designed to de-escalate frustrated callers
• Technical terminology pronunciation accuracy

Customer Service Agents

• Friendly, helpful voices for general inquiries
• Professional yet approachable tones
• Consistent brand representation
• Flexible enough for various interaction types
• Multilingual switching capabilities

Specialized voice categories available:

• Character voices: Anime, cartoon, gaming personas
• Professional voices: News anchors, narrators, educators
• Regional accents: British RP, Australian, Southern US, Regional Spanish
• Age-specific voices: Child, young adult, mature, elderly
• Emotional ranges: Cheerful, empathetic, serious, excited
• Industry-specific: Medical, legal, technical, financial

Dynamic Multi-Voice Conversations™

One of Norfolk AI's most innovative features is our ability to seamlessly introduce additional voices during a single conversation. This isn't just switching voices—it's orchestrating a dynamic, multi-character experience that transforms standard AI calls into engaging, interactive sessions.

How it works: Your primary AI agent can call in specialist voices in real-time, creating natural multi-person dialogues. For example, during a conversation with Marcela, she might say, "Let me bring in Tom from our technical team to walk you through this simulation," and suddenly Tom's voice joins the conversation with his own distinct personality and expertise.

Perfect for:

• Product Demonstrations: "Let me connect you with Sarah from our design team to show you the visual features..."
• Educational Content: Multiple instructors teaching different aspects of a topic
• Technical Support: Escalating to a "specialist" voice for complex issues
• Sales Scenarios: Bringing in a "manager" voice for special offers
• Healthcare: Different voices for doctor, nurse, and administrative roles
• Training Simulations: Role-playing with multiple characters
• Entertainment: Interactive storytelling with multiple characters

Custom voice cloning capabilities:

• Professional voice cloning from all three platforms
• CEO and executive voice replication
• Brand ambassador voice consistency
• Maintain personal connection at scale
• Available across multiple languages
• Cross-platform voice matching

Advanced features by platform:

ElevenLabs features:

• Voice Library monetization (share and earn)
• Instant voice cloning (under 1 minute of audio)
• Professional voice cloning (hyper-realistic quality)
• Dubbing Studio for video localization
• Audio isolation and enhancement

Cartesia features:

• Ultra-low latency (40ms with Sonic Turbo)
• On-device and on-premise deployment
• SSML-like controls for pauses and emphasis
• Emotion and pitch adjustment
• Real-time voice generation

Microsoft Azure features:

• HD voices with context-aware emotion
• Multi-talker conversational models
• Viseme support for avatar animation
• Neural voice fine-tuning
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance

The Norfolk AI advantage: We've done the heavy lifting

Voice AI integration is extraordinarily complex. With over 6,000 voices across three major platforms, 150+ languages, countless accents, emotional ranges, and technical specifications—not to mention API differences, pricing models, and quality variations—it would take any business months or even years to properly evaluate and implement.

What we've invested:

• 1000s of hours researching, testing, and curating voices
• Extensive quality testing across every language and accent
• Deep technical integration with multiple platforms
• Ongoing evaluation of new voices and capabilities
• Real-world testing with actual customer conversations
• Performance optimization across different use cases

What this means for you:

• Zero learning curve - we've already mastered the complexity
• Instant access to the best voices without trial and error
• No technical headaches - we handle all platform integrations
• Guaranteed quality - every voice is pre-vetted for excellence
• Future-proof solution - we continuously update our selections
• One simple decision instead of thousands of confusing options

Implementation approach: During setup, we:

• Analyze your use cases across all platforms
• Present curated voice options from our 6,000+ voice library
• Match voices to your brand personality and target demographics
• Test different options with real conversation samples
• Optimize for language, accent, and emotional range
• Fine-tune until each agent sounds perfect for their role

Quality assurance across platforms:

• Consistent voice quality regardless of platform
• Seamless failover between providers
• Load balancing for optimal performance
• Regular quality monitoring and updates
• Platform-specific optimizations

"With voices from ElevenLabs, Cartesia, and Microsoft Azure—totaling over 6,000 options across 150+ languages—we guarantee the perfect voice for your needs. Depending on the language you want supported, we will certainly have the right voice for you."

"It is indeed very complicated and has taken us thousands of hours to figure this out, so you do not have to. We've navigated this complex landscape so you can focus on what matters—growing your business with AI agents that speak perfectly in any language, with any voice, for any use case."

"Our AI Agents can call in additional voices during a single conversation. That is amazing when talking about demos, educational content calls, and keeping the caller engaged. During the conversation with Marcela, you will see that she calls Tom to help her with a simulation—and that is just a very bare-bones use case. Imagine the possibilities when your AI agents can orchestrate entire team interactions, creating rich, multi-dimensional conversations that feel incredibly real and engaging."

Ready to hear our curated voice selections or discuss custom voice cloning for your business? Let's find the perfect voices for your AI agents from our comprehensive multi-platform library.

References:

ElevenLabs Resources:

• ElevenLabs Language Support
• ElevenLabs Voice Documentation
• ElevenLabs Homepage
• ElevenLabs Professional Voice Cloning Languages
• ElevenLabs Models Documentation
• ElevenLabs Voice Library Guide
• ElevenLabs AI Narration Languages
• ElevenLabs Documentation Overview
• ElevenLabs vs. Cartesia Comparison

Cartesia Resources:

• Cartesia Homepage
• Cartesia Character Voice
• Cartesia State of Voice AI 2024
• Cartesia AI Review 2025
• Cartesia Female Voice
• Cartesia Text to Speech
• Cartesia Cartoon Voice
• Cartesia on Poe

Microsoft Azure Resources:

• Azure Speech Service Language Support
• Azure AI Speech
• Azure Text to Speech Overview
• Azure AI Speech February 2025 Updates
• Azure 11 New Languages Announcement
• Azure AI Speech HD Voices GA
• Azure Voice Gallery
• Azure Multilingual Voices (41 Languages)
• Azure SSML Voice Documentation
• Azure Text to Speech REST API

Additional Resources:

• SignalWire Voice Providers
• SignalWire ElevenLabs Integration
• Grid/Smartbox ElevenLabs Voices

An agentic AI company creates AI that actually gets things done—not just follows instructions like a robot. These systems can act independently to achieve goals, making decisions and taking action without constant supervision.

Think about the difference between a GPS and an Uber driver. A GPS gives you turn-by-turn directions, but you still have to drive. An Uber driver picks you up, navigates traffic, finds parking, and gets you there while you relax. That's the difference between traditional AI and agentic AI.

What makes AI "agentic"?

These AIs work like skilled professionals who can:

• Perceive: Gather information from emails, websites, databases, conversations, and even computer screens
• Reason: Make intelligent decisions and create strategic plans
• Act: Carry out tasks independently—from scheduling to complex workflows
• Learn: Improve performance with every interaction and feedback

The industry giants are all going agentic:

OpenAI launched ChatGPT agent in July 2025, combining web interaction, research synthesis, and conversational intelligence. Their Chief Product Officer declared: "2025 is going to be the year that agentic systems finally hit the mainstream." They've released Operator (which can use websites like a human), the Agents SDK for developers, and new voice models that outperform their legendary Whisper system.

Anthropic built Claude Opus 4 specifically for agent workflows—it can work autonomously for nearly seven hours straight. Their multi-agent systems outperform single agents by 90%, and they've introduced computer use capabilities where Claude can actually control a mouse and keyboard to complete tasks.

Google introduced Gemini 2.0 for the "new agentic era" with Project Astra (universal AI assistant), Project Mariner (browser agent), and Jules (code agent). They even launched an AI that calls local businesses on your behalf to check prices and availability.

Voice is the game-changer:

The newest agentic systems don't just type—they talk. Companies like Deepgram, ElevenLabs, and others are creating voice infrastructure that makes agents sound and feel human:

• Real-time conversation with natural turn-taking
• Emotional intelligence that adapts tone to context
• Multilingual switching mid-conversation
• Sub-second response times

Real-world examples of agentic AI companies:

• Adept AI: Uses software and apps like a human assistant would
• Moveworks: Autonomously solves IT and HR issues without tickets
• Aisera: Provides autonomous customer and employee support
• Bud Financial: Manages finances with intelligent decision-making
• Darktrace: Automated cybersecurity that defends itself
• UiPath: Combines robotic automation with intelligent workflows
• Norfolk AI: Voice-first agentic conversations that solve problems

Key differences from traditional AI:

• Proactive problem-solving, not just reactive responses
• Takes action, rather than just generating content
• Needs minimal supervision once given objectives
• Adapts to changes without reprogramming

Why businesses are going agentic:

• Automates entire workflows, not just individual tasks
• Operates 24/7 without breaks or fatigue
• Scales instantly during demand spikes
• Reduces dependency on specialized human expertise
• Handles the repetitive so your team can focus on the remarkable

In simple terms: If traditional AI is a bicycle (you steer and pedal every movement), agentic AI is a self-driving car—you just tell it the destination and it handles the entire journey, including detours, traffic, and parking.

Real talk: Most "AI" today is just fancy autocomplete. It can write emails but can't send them. It can tell you how to book a flight but can't actually book it. Agentic AI does the whole job. It's like hiring someone who says "I'll handle it" and actually handles it.

The fact that OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and countless startups are all racing to build agentic systems tells you everything: This isn't a trend—it's the future of work. Companies building agentic AI aren't just creating tools; they're creating digital employees that think, plan, and act.

The Norfolk difference: We build AI agents that have real conversations AND take real action. They don't just chat—they understand objectives, make decisions, and complete tasks. All through natural voice conversations that feel like talking to your best employee.

"The future isn't about AI that talks. It's about AI that does."

Want to see agentic AI in action? Let's show you what it means when AI actually works for you, not the other way around.

References:

Major AI Companies' Agentic Developments:

• OpenAI ChatGPT Agent
• OpenAI Operator
• OpenAI Agents SDK
• Anthropic Claude Agents
• Anthropic Claude 4 Announcement
• Google Gemini 2.0 Agentic Era
• Google Gemini CLI

Voice AI Infrastructure:

• Deepgram Voice Agent API
• ElevenLabs Conversational AI
• ElevenLabs Conversational AI 2.0
• OpenAI Whisper
• OpenAI Next-Gen Audio Models

DeepSeek Integration:

• DeepSeek Homepage
• ElevenLabs DeepSeek Integration

Industry Analysis:

• What is Agentic AI? - Sequoia Capital
• The Rise of AI Agents - Andreessen Horowitz
• MIT Technology Review on Agents
• CNBC on DeepSeek and Agentic AI

Additional Resources:

• Stanford HAI on Agentic Systems
• Gartner: Agentic AI Predictions
• Forbes: Why Agentic AI Changes Everything
• Voice AI and Voice Agents Primer

Agentic AI distinguishes itself from other types of AI through several key characteristics:

1. Autonomy and Proactivity: Traditional AI systems typically operate reactively, responding to specific inputs or queries. In contrast, agentic AI systems are designed to function autonomously, proactively pursuing objectives without continuous human intervention. They can analyze situations, make decisions, and execute tasks to achieve defined goals.

2. Complex Decision-Making: While conventional AI excels at handling well-defined, singular tasks, agentic AI is equipped to manage complex, multi-step problems. It employs sophisticated reasoning and iterative planning to navigate intricate scenarios, adapting its strategies based on real-time data and environmental changes.

3. Adaptability and Learning: Agentic AI systems possess the ability to learn from interactions and outcomes, continuously refining their performance. This adaptability enables them to adjust to evolving contexts and unforeseen challenges, enhancing their effectiveness over time.

4. Integration with External Tools: Unlike some AI models that operate in isolation, agentic AI can integrate with various tools and systems, allowing it to perform a broader range of actions. For instance, it can interact with software applications, access databases, and utilize APIs to accomplish tasks.

5. Goal-Oriented Behavior: Agentic AI focuses on achieving specific objectives, orchestrating multiple actions and decisions to fulfill its goals. This goal-oriented approach contrasts with AI systems that provide outputs based solely on immediate inputs without considering broader objectives.

In summary, agentic AI represents an evolution in artificial intelligence, characterized by autonomous operation, complex problem-solving capabilities, adaptability, integration with external systems, and a focus on achieving defined goals.