Barge, steer and join
Barge, steer and join are three levels of live intervention in an AI-handled call: watching it in real time, giving the AI instructions mid-call, and joining the call as a person.
Also called: supervise a live call, call intervention
The most common objection to an AI receptionist is "what if it gets it wrong?". Live intervention is the direct answer. The owner sets a trigger, a keyword, a sentiment, a named caller, and is alerted while the call is still happening.
Steering means typing an instruction the AI follows in its next turn ("offer them Thursday", "tell them I will call back"). Joining means the person enters the call, with the AI either handing over or stepping back.
The word barge here comes from call-center supervision, where a supervisor barges into an agent’s call. It is not the same as barge-in, a speech-AI term for the caller interrupting the AI.