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Sales & Customers

Do AI SDRs actually work, or are they hype?

Treat AI SDRs with hard skepticism: TechCrunch's investigation of 11x found fake customer logos and 70 to 80 percent churn, and even Gong's CEO calls fully autonomous AI SDRs BS in today's market. What does work is narrower: AI agents doing research, drafting, and triage under human review, which is how operators like Jason Lemkin actually run it. If you pilot one, insist on a short break clause, your own deliverability setup, and honest metrics on meetings booked, not emails sent.

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Churn

More in CRM & Sales Calls

How do founders use AI notetakers and call analysis (Granola, Fireflies, Gong-style tools) to close more deals? 20 → Why let AI update the CRM, draft follow-ups, and forecast pipeline? 23 → Which AI notetaker should I actually pick: Granola, Fathom, Fireflies, or Otter, and what will it cost? 18 → Do I need a CRM at the pre-seed stage, and should I pick an AI-native CRM like Attio over HubSpot or Zoho? 18 → How are founders using AI tools like Clay and Apollo to run outbound prospecting and personalized cold email? 20 → How can I use AI to practice sales calls and coach myself when I have never sold before? 16 → Is it legal and OK to record sales calls with an AI notetaker? 17 → How do founders turn sales call transcripts into product insights and sharper messaging? 19 → How do founders use AI for pre-call research and meeting prep? 18 → How can AI help me qualify and score leads so I chase the right deals? 19 → What does an affordable AI sales stack look like for an early-stage Indian startup? 19 →

Also in Starting Up

The same ground, over in Get your first customers, our Starting Up track.

How do I actually get my first 10 customers when nobody has heard of me? 19 → When is my product 'ready' to launch? 20 →
eChai Partner Brands The partnership →