AI Voice Agents Are Doing Market Research for $0.50/Minute
PLUS: How to use ChatGPT for Excel to analyze your business data
✉️ Editor's Note
Ever feel like AI is only for tech giants with billion-dollar budgets? Today's stories prove otherwise. We're seeing AI tools that were once exclusive to Fortune 500 companies now becoming accessible to small businesses and individuals. The democratization is real, and it's happening faster than you think.
— Sarah Chen, Editor
🗞️ TODAY IN AI
1. DiligenceSquared uses AI, voice agents to make M&A research affordable: A startup is using AI voice agents to conduct customer interviews for private equity firms during mergers and acquisitions due diligence. These agents can interview 50+ customers per deal at just $0.50 per minute, replacing expensive management consultants who charge thousands per hour. Link Why it matters: Small business owners and entrepreneurs can now access the same quality of market research that was previously only available to large corporations with deep pockets.
2. AWS launches a new AI agent platform specifically for healthcare: Amazon Connect Health is a new AI agent platform from AWS designed to help healthcare providers with patient scheduling, documentation, and verification tasks. The platform can handle appointment reminders, insurance verification, and even preliminary symptom screening. Link Why it matters: This means shorter wait times for patients and less administrative burden for healthcare workers, making the entire system more efficient for everyone.
3. OpenAI introduces GPT-5.4 with more knowledge-work capability: OpenAI has released GPT-5.4 with enhanced capabilities for professional knowledge work, including improved coding, computer use, and tool search features. This version is specifically optimized for tasks like data analysis, research synthesis, and complex problem-solving. Link Why it matters: If you're drowning in spreadsheets, research papers, or complex documents, this update means AI can help you make sense of it all faster and more accurately than ever before.
🔬 DEEP DIVE
By Marcus Rivera
The $0.50/Minute Market Research Revolution
What if you could interview 50 customers about your business idea without spending thousands on consultants? That's exactly what DiligenceSquared is making possible with AI voice agents that conduct market research interviews for just $0.50 per minute. These agents can ask follow-up questions, detect sentiment, and compile insights—all without human intervention.
Why it matters for you: This isn't just for private equity firms anymore. Imagine you're launching a new product, considering a business expansion, or trying to understand why customers are leaving. Instead of guessing or paying $300/hour for a consultant, you could deploy AI agents to interview your actual customers. The cost savings are staggering: what used to cost $15,000+ for comprehensive research now costs under $500.
The takeaway: Start thinking about how you could use affordable market research in your business. Whether you're a freelancer testing service ideas, a small business owner considering a new location, or a content creator understanding your audience better—this technology is now within reach. The barrier to making data-driven decisions just got a whole lot lower.
🎓 AI ACADEMY
By Alex Torres
How to analyze your business data with ChatGPT for Excel
👤 Best for: Small business owners, freelancers, consultants, and anyone who works with spreadsheets but isn't a data analyst
If you've ever stared at a spreadsheet full of numbers and wished you could just ask it questions, ChatGPT for Excel is your answer.
- Install the ChatGPT add-in from the Microsoft AppSource store (it's free for basic use). You'll need a ChatGPT Plus subscription for full features.
- Open your Excel spreadsheet with sales data, expenses, customer information, or any business metrics you want to analyze.
- Select the data range you want to analyze, then click the ChatGPT button in your Excel ribbon.
- Ask natural language questions like "What were our top 3 products by revenue last quarter?" or "Show me monthly trends in customer acquisition costs."
Sample Prompt (copy and paste this):
Analyze this sales data and tell me:
1. Which products have the highest profit margins?
2. What days of the week see the most sales?
3. Are there any seasonal patterns I should know about?
4. Give me 3 actionable recommendations to increase revenue based on this data.
💡 Pro tip: Start with specific questions rather than vague ones. Instead of "analyze this data," ask "show me customer churn patterns by subscription tier" for more useful insights.
⚡ QUICK HITS
- 🔧 Luma launches creative AI agents: Luma Agents can coordinate multiple AI systems to generate end-to-end creative work across text, images, video, and audio for marketing and communications professionals. Link
- 🎯 ChatGPT for Excel financial integrations: OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Excel with financial data integrations, allowing users to accelerate modeling, research, and analysis directly within Excel spreadsheets. Link
- 🚀 GPT-5.4 knowledge work focus: The latest OpenAI model is specifically optimized for professional tasks like coding, research synthesis, and complex analysis—perfect for anyone doing knowledge work. Link
💬 PROMPT OF THE DAY
Market Research Interview Script
Act as a market research interviewer conducting customer interviews for a [your product/service] business. Ask me these questions in order, but adapt your follow-up questions based on my responses:
1. How did you first hear about our [product/service]?
2. What problem were you trying to solve when you decided to try it?
3. What specific features do you use most often and why?
4. What's one thing we could improve that would make your experience significantly better?
5. On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to recommend us to a friend or colleague? (Follow up: Why that number?)
After each answer, ask one relevant follow-up question to dig deeper into my response. Keep the conversation natural and conversational.
See you tomorrow,
The Have AI Do It Team
Sarah, Marcus, Alex & the crew
We translate 'Tech Velocity' into 'Everyday Utility.'