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External · Harvard Business ReviewMarch 2026 · 5 min read

What Should Your Company's AI Sound Like to Customers?

Harvard Business Review explores one of the most overlooked dimensions of customer-facing AI: its voice. Tone, pacing, and personality shape trust as much as accuracy does — and most companies are getting it wrong.

Why this matters for dental practices

Patient-facing AI isn't just a transactional tool. The way it greets, listens, and confirms appointments becomes part of the practice's brand. A voice that feels rushed or robotic erodes confidence; one that's warm and clear builds it.

Key takeaways

  • AI voice is a brand decision, not just a technical one.
  • Match tone to context — empathy for sensitive topics, efficiency for routine confirmations.
  • Consistency across channels (phone, SMS, web) builds trust faster than novelty.
  • Test with real customers; perceived warmth often diverges from internal assumptions.

Read the full article

Published in Harvard Business Review, March 2026.

Read on HBR.org

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