Podium is proving AI isn’t just for big tech by equipping over 10,000 local businesses—from HVAC pros to medspas—with AI agents that capture leads and close jobs. Their agent, nicknamed Jerry, handles inquiries in under a minute, 24/7, converting missed calls into booked appointments. Results are eye-popping: 300% year-over-year AI revenue growth, 30% average revenue increase, and 45% higher lead conversion. The secret sauce? Using GPT-5.1 to power agents that learn business-specific policies and tone in plain language. Why it matters: This shows AI agents are democratizing high-touch customer service for SMBs, turning a competitive weapon once reserved for deep-pocketed enterprises into a scalable growth tool for Main Street.