Observe.AI, PolyAI, Botpress, Forethought and a shrinking pack of rivals are racing to replace hold music with software that talks back. The funding says they are winning. The person still stuck on the line is not so sure.
The Bengaluru company built its business on automating customer support one message at a time, handling more than 20 million conversations a month. In July 2026, Mukesh Bansal's Nurix AI bought it - just as the category it helped pioneer turned into a multi-billion-dollar race.