NEW YORK

AI Receptionist for New York Businesses

Yes, a New York business can use an AI receptionist. New York lets a call be recorded with one party’s consent, and its telemarketing law covers sales texts as well as calls. An AI receptionist answers calls people place to you, which is a different thing from telemarketing, and Awava sets it up that way, along with missed-call text back and review requests. The AI Receptionist is included in AI Pro ($1,997 setup plus $397 a month), or $97 a month added to the Website or Core plan.

Or call (978) 630-7976 right now: an AI answers. That’s the demo.

NEW YORK AT A GLANCE

  • Recording callsOne-party consent (N.Y. Penal Law §§ 250.00, 250.05)
  • Sales calls and textsN.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 399-z, plus the federal TCPA
  • AI voicesOutbound AI calls need prior consent (FCC, 2024)
  • Last checkedOctober 2026
THE RULES

What New York law means for an AI front desk.

The three rules that shape how an AI receptionist is set up in New York, each with the statute it comes from.

RECORDING CALLS

One-party consent

New York is a one-party consent state: recording a call is eavesdropping only when no party to it consents. Awava still tells callers when calls are recorded, because your callers may be in all-party states, and because callers prefer knowing.

N.Y. Penal Law §§ 250.00, 250.05

SALES CALLS AND TEXTS

New York’s telemarketing law

General Business Law § 399-z covers telemarketing campaigns to New York customers by phone call or text. It sets up the state do-not-call registry and requires a telemarketer to identify itself and offer a do-not-call option at the start of a sales call.

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 399-z

FEDERAL

AI voices and the federal rules

On 8 February 2024 the FCC ruled that AI-generated voices count as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, so calls a business places with an AI voice need the called person’s prior express consent. That ruling is about calls you place. An AI receptionist answers calls people place to you, and Awava does not use it to dial lists.

FCC Declaratory Ruling FCC 24-17

HOW AWAVA SETS IT UP

Built around the rules from the first call.

Awava installs the AI receptionist, connects it to your number and manages it for you. These are the defaults for New York businesses. How the AI Receptionist works

  • When calls are recorded, the greeting says so, even though New York only needs one party’s consent.
  • The AI receptionist answers calls people place to you. It does not run telemarketing campaigns.
  • Missed-call text back goes only to someone who just called you, and replying STOP ends the texts.
  • Campaign texts go only to customers who gave you their number and agreed to hear from you.
  • If a caller asks, the AI says it is an AI and offers to have you call back.
FAQ

Questions New York businesses ask us.

Yes. New York law does not ban AI call answering. New York is a one-party consent state for recording calls (Penal Law §§ 250.00 and 250.05), and General Business Law § 399-z governs telemarketing by call or text.
Yes. A call can be recorded in New York when one party to it consents. If the caller is in an all-party state, that state’s rule may apply too, which is why Awava announces recording on every call.
Section 399-z is about telemarketing: campaigns that call or text people to sell to them. An AI receptionist answers people who called you. Whether a specific follow-up message counts as telemarketing is a question for your lawyer.
Yes. Awava works remotely with businesses across the United States. Everything is set up and managed for you, and there is no software for you to learn.
No. This page is general information, checked October 2026. Laws change, and how they apply depends on your business, so check with a lawyer licensed in New York before relying on it.

General information, not legal advice. Checked October 2026 against the official statute text linked above. Laws change, and how they apply depends on your business; check with a lawyer licensed in New York.

BOOK A CALL

See where your New York business stands.

The free audit shows who Google and the AI assistants name for your service and town, and what would change that.

Or text us — we answer in seconds.

Talk to the AI nowGet started