Key Facts

• The traditional automated call system is called IVR — Interactive Voice Response — the "press 1" menus customers famously "zero out" of, per an Associated Press report.
• The FCC ruled in February 2024 that AI-generated voices legally count as "artificial or prerecorded voice" under the TCPA, per the official ruling.
• TCPA class-action filings are up 95% year over year, with aggregate verdicts exceeding $925 million, according to compliance data.
• TCPA statutory damages run $500–$1,500 per call with no aggregate cap, and 2025–2026 settlements ranged from $5M to $20M, legal analysis shows.
• Klarna replaced 700 of its roughly 3,000 agents with AI, then hired humans back for complex issues AI couldn't handle, the AP reported.
• Bank of America's AI chatbot Erica has handled 3 billion interactions since launching in 2018, according to industry reporting.
• An Established Business Relationship does not exempt AI calls — the artificial voice itself triggers TCPA consent rules, compliance experts note.