Revolutionizing Online Sales: AI-Powered Phone Calls for Le Bon Coin

The Challenge of Online Marketplace Sales

Selling items online through platforms like Le Bon Coin can be time-consuming, especially when dealing with numerous inquiries from potential buyers. Many sellers find themselves procrastinating due to the hassle of managing calls and negotiations. But what if there was a way to automate this process?

Experimenting with AI-Powered Phone Calls

In a fascinating experiment, a seller decided to explore whether it was possible to let an AI handle incoming calls for a camera listing on Le Bon Coin. The goal was to have the AI answer questions, provide information about the product, and even negotiate the price on behalf of the seller.

Setting Up the AI Assistant

Crafting the Perfect Prompt

The first step in this experiment was to create a detailed prompt for the AI assistant. This prompt included:

• Information about the camera (Sony Alpha 6400 with a 24mm 1.8 lens)

• The condition of the item (excellent, no scratches)

• Purchase date (2 years ago)

• Instructions for handling inquiries and negotiations

• Price range (500€ starting price, minimum 450€)

The prompt was designed to enable the AI to respond to common questions and use negotiation techniques inspired by the book "Never Split the Difference."

Testing the Prompt

Before implementing the system, the seller tested the prompt by posing as a potential buyer and asking questions such as:

• Is the camera still available?
• Can I buy the lens separately?
• Is there room for negotiation if I pay in cash?

The AI's responses were concise and direct, adhering to the guidelines set in the prompt.

Connecting AI to a Phone Number

Exploring Voice AI Tools

The next challenge was finding a way to connect the AI assistant to a phone number. The seller initially explored tools like Vapi, which allows users to create voice agents connected to ChatGPT. However, this approach had limitations:

1. Audio-to-text conversion
2. Text processing through ChatGPT
3. Text-to-speech conversion

This multi-step process resulted in a noticeable latency of about 2 seconds, making conversations feel unnatural.

Discovering OpenAI's Real-Time API

Further research led to the discovery of OpenAI's Real-Time API, which offers a more seamless integration between voice and language models. This technology uses WebSocket connections, eliminating the need for multiple conversions and reducing latency significantly.

Implementing the AI Phone System

Acquiring a Programmable Phone Number

To make the AI assistant accessible via phone, the seller needed a programmable phone number. After exploring various options, they settled on Twilio, a leading provider of programmable phone numbers that can be connected to APIs for automation and custom scenarios.

Connecting Twilio to OpenAI

Although Twilio didn't have a direct connector to OpenAI's Real-Time API, the seller found a Python code snippet that could bridge the gap. This code created a small server to handle calls from Twilio and communicate with the Real-Time API via WebSocket.

Configuring the System

The final steps involved:

1. Setting up the Python server to receive webhooks from Twilio
2. Configuring Twilio to direct incoming calls to the server
3. Implementing the AI prompt within the Python code

The Experiment Goes Live

With the system in place, the seller posted the camera listing on Le Bon Coin, including the Twilio phone number. The experiment ran for 24 hours to see how the AI would handle real inquiries from potential buyers.

Results and Observations

Impressive Performance

The results of the experiment were remarkable. The AI assistant successfully engaged with callers, answering questions about the camera and even negotiating prices. Here's an example of a conversation:

Caller: "Hello, I'm calling about the camera on Le Bon Coin. Is it still available?"

AI: "Yes, it's still available. What would you like to know?"

Caller: "I'm interested in buying just the lens. Is that possible?"

AI: "The camera is still available, but I'm not selling the lens separately. It's a complete set with the body. Do you have any other questions?"

Caller: "Could you give me a 25% discount?"

AI: "I can offer to lower the price to 480€. How does that sound?"

Caller: "What if we agree on 400€?"

AI: "400€ is a bit low for a camera of this quality. I can offer 450€, but I really can't go any lower than that."

Cost-Effectiveness

The entire experiment, including all tests and received calls, cost approximately 20€. This relatively low cost for an automated system capable of handling inquiries and negotiations is impressive.

Implications and Considerations

The Rise of AI Voice Agents

This experiment highlights the rapid advancement of AI voice agents. Similar technology is already being used in various applications, including some less ethical ones like scam calls.

Ethical Concerns

The seamless nature of these AI interactions raises important ethical questions. As these systems become more sophisticated, it may become increasingly difficult for people to distinguish between human and AI interactions.

Potential Applications

While this experiment focused on online marketplace sales, the technology could have numerous applications in customer service, appointment scheduling, and other areas where phone interactions are common.

Need for Awareness

As AI voice agents become more prevalent, it's crucial for people to be aware of their existence and capabilities. This knowledge can help individuals be more cautious when sharing sensitive information over the phone.

Conclusion

This experiment demonstrates the potential of AI-powered phone systems to revolutionize online sales and customer interactions. While the technology is impressive, it also highlights the need for careful consideration of the ethical implications and potential misuse of such systems.

As AI continues to advance, it's essential for both businesses and consumers to stay informed about these developments. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI voice agents can help us navigate this new landscape of automated interactions more effectively.

Whether this technology will become widely adopted in online marketplaces remains to be seen. However, this experiment provides a glimpse into a future where AI assistants could handle many of our day-to-day phone interactions, for better or worse.

Future Developments

As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see further improvements in natural language processing, voice synthesis, and real-time interactions. These advancements may lead to even more convincing and capable AI voice agents.

Some potential areas for future development include:

• Multilingual support for global markets
• Enhanced emotion detection and response
• Integration with other AI systems for more complex decision-making
• Improved security measures to prevent misuse and protect user privacy

Preparing for an AI-Driven Future

As we move towards a future where AI-powered interactions become more common, it's important for individuals and businesses to adapt. Here are some steps to consider:

1. Stay informed about AI developments and their potential impact on various industries
2. Develop strategies for verifying the identity of callers, especially for sensitive transactions
3. Consider the ethical implications of using AI for customer interactions and establish clear guidelines
4. Invest in AI literacy to better understand the capabilities and limitations of these systems
5. Explore ways to integrate AI technologies into existing business processes to improve efficiency and customer experience

By embracing these technologies responsibly and staying informed about their progress, we can harness the benefits of AI-powered communication while mitigating potential risks.

Ultimately, the success of AI voice agents in online marketplaces and other applications will depend on their ability to provide value to both businesses and consumers while maintaining trust and transparency in their interactions.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5paw1DhtReM