BT Business rolled out a new AI suite in the UK to help businesses adopt the technology while overcoming complexity and security concerns which may be holding them back.

The operator stated AI from BT was introduced following research it conducted which revealed 66% of small businesses recognise the potential benefits of AI, but more than half are not yet realising its full-value.

It highlighted AI Receptionist as a standout feature. BT stated it can help businesses manage customer enquiries “around the clock” and never miss a call.

BT stated small businesses in the UK can lose £3.7 billion per year through missed calls, with 67% missing at least one potentially valuable call on an average day.

It stated AI Receptionist can simplify management of appointments, and provide a more efficient system for follow-ups and a tailored customer experience, with customisable voice and accent options.

The company stated it would be particularly useful across trades and field-based businesses, for estate agents, legal and financial services, the hospitality sector and retailers.

Other tools include an AI Adoption Hub offering practical guides, prompt packs, expert insights and real-world examples of businesses using the technology.

BT Business CEO Jon James said AI has the potential to drive growth in the UK “but many businesses are struggling to know how to begin and how adopt simply and securely”.

“AI Receptionist is the first step in the journey, helping businesses capture every opportunity, reduce admin and deliver responsive, personalised service around the clock, while keeping their customer data protected.”

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Verizon took its board to 10 members with the appointment of private equity guru Charles Phillips (pictured), a move framed as being about his financial leadership at a time when some shareholders are concerned about the operator’s management structure.

Phillips is co-founder and managing partner of technology company-focused private equity outfit Recognise Partners. Among past experiences are top-line roles with enterprise resource planning company Infor, Oracle and Morgan Stanley.

Verizon CEO Dan Schulman lauded Phillips’ “distinctive experience in technology, financial and regulatory environments”, comments hinting at why the operator was keen to have him on board.

The boss hopes Phillips will help Verizon to “innovate faster” by focusing on customer service.

Schulman also said he hopes the latest board member would help the operator “drive sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders”, something foremost in the minds of some shareholders which are keen for policies to be set governing Verizon’s management structure.

Pressure
The US National Legal and Policy Centre (NLPC) used Verizon’s AGM earlier this year to call for a current separation in the roles of CEO and chair to be formalised, with the latter post to be held by an independent director.

It expressed concern over Schulman’s competence, asserting he “presided over catastrophic value destruction” and politicised business decisions while CEO of PayPal.

The NLPC argued Verizon stock performed below par under previous CEO Hans Vestberg, who was concurrently chair “for most of his tenure”.

Verizon is keeping the posts separate for now, with Mark Bertolini chairing.

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AT&T agreed a multi-year fibre and cable deal valued at more than $3 billion with glass-specialist Corning to advance its converged strategy of mobile and broadband services.

AT&T CEO John Stankey has long been a proponent of fibre as the basis for the company reaching 60 million consumer and business locations by 2030.

The mobile operator achieved its goal of passing more than 30 million locations in June 2026, six months ahead of schedule.

In its most recent Q2 results, AT&T recorded 646,000 total consumer and business internet net adds, comprised of 367,000 fibre and 279,000 fixed wireless access connections, which marked a record quarter for combined fibre and fixed wireless additions.

The two companies signed a multi-year fibre agreement two years ago worth $1 billion. AT&T was also a core investor with Corning in 2022 on a new cable manufacturing facility in the state of Arizona.

Based on Ookla Speedtest data from almost 1,700 fixed internet providers in the US in the first half of 2026, lead industry analyst Mike Dano estimated AT&T and Verizon made up about 60% of the fibre Speedtest samples to lead the fibre charge.

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