AI sales assistant: what it is, the 5 types, and how to choose one

By the Della AI team · Updated November 2026

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An AI sales assistant is software that helps salespeople sell, or takes a task off their plate. The five common types are: a live-call assistant that shows the rep what to say during the call, a practice partner reps rehearse objections with, an AI caller that dials a list in an AI voice, an AI SDR that prospects and follows up, and an inbound responder that answers new leads. Pick the type that fixes the step where your team loses deals. If reps get conversations but lose them at the objection, a live-call assistant like Della Live, which puts your team's best answer on the rep's screen while the prospect is still talking, is the place to start.

The 5 types of AI sales assistant

"AI sales assistant" covers very different tools. Before you compare products, decide which job you want done.

Type	What it does	Best when	Della product
Live-call assistant	Listens to the call and shows the rep the next line or the answer to an objection, on screen, while the prospect is talking. Scores the call afterward.	Reps get conversations but lose them at the pushback	Della Live (phone), Della Live Plus (video calls)
Practice partner	An AI voice prospect that raises objections out loud so reps can rehearse, then grades the session.	New reps ramp slowly, or reps freeze on the same objections	Della Practice, Premium Practice (video)
AI caller	Dials your list in an AI voice, says it's an AI, answers questions from your playbook and books meetings or flags warm leads.	You have more leads than rep hours, and you have the consent the law requires	Della AI Caller
AI SDR	Finds prospects that match your buyer, researches them, reaches out and follows up, then hands interested ones to a rep.	Reps spend their day prospecting instead of selling	Della AI SDR
Inbound lead responder	Replies to new email leads in seconds, answers their questions and flags the ones ready to buy.	Inbound leads wait hours for a first reply	Della AI Email Agent

You'll also see meeting note-takers and CRM helpers sold as AI sales assistants. They save admin time after the call. They don't change what a rep says while the prospect is still on the line.

Which one does your team need?

Look at your own numbers for one month and find the step that leaks the most:

Not enough conversations. Reps dial all day and rarely reach anyone, or spend hours building lists. Start with the list and prospecting: an AI SDR, or an AI caller for leads you're allowed to call with an AI voice.
Conversations, but few meetings. Prospects pick up, then "send me an email" or "we already have someone" ends the call. This is the most common leak on cold-calling floors. Start with a live-call assistant, and add practice so reps own the answers.
New reps take months to get good. Start with a practice partner, so new hires hear every common objection before they dial.
Inbound leads go cold. Start with an inbound responder so no lead waits for a reply.

Not sure where your calls leak? Our guide to improving cold-call conversion with AI shows how to split the funnel into four numbers.

What to look for in AI sales assistant software

During the call, not only after. A summary after the call helps next week. An answer on screen helps this call. Ask which one you're buying.
Your script, not generic advice. The lines should come from your own script and your best rep's answers, and a manager should be able to change an answer once for the whole team.
The prospect never hears it. For live-call help, the assistant should show text to the rep only. Your rep stays in charge.
Every call scored. Managers can't listen to every call. Look for a grade and one clear fix on each call, so coaching goes where it's needed.
Practice tied to real calls. The best setup links practice to the objections reps actually miss on live calls.
Honest AI disclosure. If the AI talks to prospects, it should say it's an AI. AI-voice calls in the US fall under the TCPA's robocall rules; see our guide to cold calling AI.
Prices you can see. Per-seat and per-minute prices on the website, and a free trial, so you can test it on your own calls before you commit.

Questions to ask before you buy

Where do the suggested lines come from, and how do I change one?
Does it work with how my reps call today (a dialer, a phone, video calls)?
What does a rep see on screen, and how fast does it show up?
Who can see our calls, and where is the data stored?
What does it cost per seat and per minute, and is there a minimum?
Can I try it on real calls before I sign?

How Della fits

Della AI is an AI sales coach that covers the first three types in one dashboard. Della Live listens to your rep's call and, when the prospect objects, puts your team's best answer on the rep's screen from your own script, then scores every call. Della Practice is an AI voice prospect reps rehearse your real objections with. The Della AI Caller calls your list in Della's voice, says she's an AI on every call, and sends warm leads to your reps. Della also offers an AI SDR and an AI Email Agent, priced on volume.

For the live-call type in detail, see the best AI assistant for live sales calls, and for how the pieces work on a call, see how an AI-powered sales assistant works. Della backs your reps up; people still sell.

Pricing (from dellasales.ai/pricing, November 10, 2026): Della Live is $199 per seat per month on a 12-month agreement ($239 month-to-month) plus $0.08 per live minute (ringing and voicemail free), with a 5-seat minimum and a 7-day free trial. Della Practice is $24.99 per rep per month (5-rep minimum, $124.95/mo) plus $0.68 per practice minute, and the first practice call is free. Della AI Caller is $0.68 per minute of call time, voicemails included, and unanswered calls are free. Just one rep? See Della Live for one rep.

Try Della Live free for 7 days.

Della listens to your rep's call and puts your team's best answer on screen when the prospect objects, from your own script. Every call is scored. Della is AI; your reps run the call.

Start my 7-day free trial See pricing →

FAQ

What is an AI sales assistant?

Software that helps salespeople sell or takes a task off their plate. Common types: live-call assistants that show reps what to say during a call, AI practice partners, AI callers, AI SDRs that prospect and follow up, and inbound lead responders.

What is the best AI sales assistant for cold-calling teams?

For teams that already get conversations, a live-call assistant usually helps most, because most cold calls are lost right after the first objection. Della Live puts your team's best answer on the rep's screen while the prospect is still talking and scores every call. Pair it with practice so reps own the answers.

Is an AI sales assistant the same as an AI SDR?

No. An AI SDR is one type of AI sales assistant: it prospects and follows up on its own. Other types help a human rep during the call, or train reps between calls.

Will an AI sales assistant replace my reps?

No. A live-call assistant or practice partner makes your reps better at the calls they already make. Even an AI caller hands warm leads to a rep. Della backs reps up; people still sell.

How much does AI sales assistant software cost?

It depends on the type. Della Live is $199 per seat per month on a 12-month agreement ($239 month-to-month) plus $0.08 per live minute, with a 5-seat minimum. Della Practice is $24.99 per rep per month plus $0.68 per practice minute. The Della AI Caller is $0.68 per minute.

Can the prospect hear the AI sales assistant?

Not with a live-call assistant. Della Live shows answers only on the rep's screen and never speaks on the call. Where the law requires it, tell the prospect the call is recorded or transcribed.