Hyderabad startup launches AI that answers unknown calls for users
Will roll out on October 2 with an early access programme for the first 10,000 Android users in Delhi NCR, ahead of a nationwide expansion
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Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based tech startup Equal has launched Equal AI, India’s first AI-powered call assistant designed to answer unknown calls on behalf of users. The product will roll out on October 2 with an early access program for the first 10,000 Android users in Delhi NCR, ahead of a nationwide expansion. Unlike conventional caller ID or call-screening apps, Equal AI engages callers in fluent English, Hindi, and Hinglish, identifies the purpose of the call, and either connects, records a message, or filters it out. The system is designed to tackle one of India’s most persistent problems: spam, scam, and transactional calls.
India is among the world’s most spam-affected countries, with over 60 per cent of smartphone users receiving three or more spam calls daily. In the first half of 2024 alone, TRAI logged nearly 8 lakh complaints against unregistered telemarketers. Equal AI aims to change that by delivering proactive call management.
In pilot trials, Equal AI reduced interruptions by 87 per cent, cut delivery coordination time by 73 per cent, and achieved a 94 per cent spam detection rate with no errors for saved contacts. Importantly, the assistant never answers calls from numbers stored in a user’s contact list.
“Equal AI takes the call for you—it listens, speaks, transcribes, and lets you decide if it’s worth your time. It’s like having your own personal secretary, giving back what matters most: time,” said Keshav Reddy, Founder of Equal AI. Equal AI’s features include: Handling calls from delivery agents, avoiding repeated address confirmations; Live transcription so users can “peek before they speak”; Instant handover to the user at any time; Contextual understanding of Indian names, companies, and call patterns; Smart engagement with telemarketers while capturing key information.
Equal is targeting 1 million daily active users by mid-2026. The AI assistant is the company’s first step toward a broader vision of building a daily-use AI companion for Indians, extending into shopping, finance, housing, and routine services.
The Android version launches first in Delhi NCR, with phased rollouts to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad planned by the end of 2025. iOS support will follow soon.
Backed by marquee investors including Prosus, Blume, DST Global Partners, Binny Bansal, Kunal Shah, and Nikhil Kamath, Equal has also been recognized as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer 2025.
