The world of customer support AI is moving at a dizzying pace. Not long ago, a chatbot that could pull answers from a help center felt like the future. Now, we're talking about "AI agents" and "concierges", tools built not just to find answers, but to actually get things done.
One of the names you'll hear in this space is Lorikeet AI. They've been getting a lot of attention (and funding) for their promise to handle the kind of tricky, multi-step problems that have always needed a human touch. But what does it really do? How much does it cost? And is it the right tool for your team?
Let’s cut through the hype and take an honest look at Lorikeet AI’s features, pricing, and potential drawbacks so you can figure out if it makes sense for you.
What is Lorikeet AI?
At its core, Lorikeet AI is a customer support platform that acts as an "AI concierge." The big idea is that it goes way beyond just spitting out FAQ articles. Instead, it's designed to follow your company’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to actively resolve customer issues. Think of it less like a search engine and more like a digital team member that can perform actions on its own.
Graph of Lorikeet's Intelligent Graph Orchestration.The company was founded in Australia by folks from Stripe and Google, and it’s aimed at businesses with complex support needs, especially those in regulated fields like fintech and healthcare where getting things right is absolutely critical. Its main selling point is its ability to handle sensitive tasks, like replacing a lost debit card or triaging medical questions, which sets it apart from simpler chatbots.
With over $50 million in venture capital, Lorikeet is clearly a serious player. They're trying to automate the kind of workflows that have always been the most challenging and expensive to manage.
Lorikeet AI's key features
Lorikeet AI is all about understanding and carrying out complex, step-by-step tasks. Let's dig into its main features.
Complex workflow automation
What really makes Lorikeet AI stand out is its ability to connect to your business systems through APIs. This lets it do things, not just say things. For example, it can plug into platforms like Zendesk to manage tickets, Stripe to issue refunds, or your internal tools to reschedule an appointment. This is a big deal for businesses that handle intricate customer requests that follow a clear, rule-based process.
But here’s the catch: building and maintaining these deep, custom integrations can be a huge project. It usually involves a long sales process and a lot of back-and-forth with developers, which can be a non-starter for teams that need to be nimble. In contrast, tools like eesel AI are built to be completely self-serve. You can connect your help desk with one click and have a working AI agent live in minutes, not months, without needing to rope in a developer.
Workflow diagram illustrating how the Lorikeet AI pricing model handles complex resolutions.Omnichannel support
Lorikeet is built to work across different places where customers might reach out, including live chat, email, and phone. In theory, this means you can offer the same experience whether someone messages you from your website or calls your support line. Having one AI brain managing conversations across all channels is a definite plus for a smooth customer journey.
A complete support strategy, however, often needs to cover more than just customer-facing channels. While eesel AI also offers a full omnichannel solution, it goes a step further by integrating with internal support tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. This lets you bring both your external customer support and internal employee help desk together on one platform, which helps break down those frustrating knowledge gaps between departments.
A screenshot of the eesel AI chatbot answering a question within Slack, demonstrating its integration with internal support channels, a key feature of the Lorikeet AI alternative.Safety and guardrails
When you give an AI the keys to your systems, you have to be 100% sure it won't do something unexpected. Lorikeet tackles this with a strong focus on specific permissions and "operational guardrails." This makes sure the AI can only perform safe, pre-approved actions, like updating a shipping address but not canceling an account without getting a human's okay. For any serious AI tool, this kind of safety net isn't just a nice-to-have; it's essential.
This level of security is the baseline, but the best platforms put the controls in the hands of the people actually running the support team. eesel AI provides enterprise-level security but empowers support managers through a fully customizable workflow engine. Using a simple, no-code prompt editor, you can define your AI’s exact tone of voice, personality, what it can and can’t do, and when it should escalate to a human, all without writing any code.
A screenshot of eesel AI’s no-code workflow editor, where support managers can set up safety guardrails and customize the AI’s behavior, illustrating an advantage over Lorikeet AI.Lorikeet AI pricing: Let's talk numbers
A platform's pricing model is just as important as its features. It affects your ability to scale, your budget, and your overall ROI. Lorikeet uses a credit-based system that’s worth understanding before you jump in.
How the credit model works
Lorikeet's pricing is based on "successfully resolved tickets." You buy a monthly plan with a certain number of credits, and different actions use up different amounts of those credits. A simple FAQ answer costs less than a complex resolution that involves multiple steps.
Here’s a look at their publicly listed plans:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Resolutions/Month | Cost per FAQ Resolution | Cost per Workflow Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $500 | Up to 750 | 0.67 credits | 1.25 credits |
| Scale | $2,000 | Up to 4,000 | 0.50 credits | 1.00 credits |
| Enterprise | Custom | 4,000+ | Volume discounts | Volume discounts |
The biggest headache with a per-resolution model is that it's unpredictable. If you have a busy month and the AI does a great job automating tickets, your bill goes up. This approach can feel like it's penalizing you for being successful, making it really tough to forecast costs and stick to a budget.
What to know before you sign up
The first thing you’ll probably notice is the $500/month starting price, which might be too steep for smaller teams. There’s also no mention of a free trial, meaning you can't really see how it performs in the real world without a financial commitment. The main button on their site is "Get a demo," which usually points to a classic, sales-heavy process where you can't just try the product for yourself.
This is where a different approach, like the one from eesel AI, can be a breath of fresh air. eesel AI has transparent, predictable flat-fee plans with no per-resolution fees. You get a set number of AI interactions per month, and you won't get a surprise bill after a busy week. With flexible monthly plans you can cancel anytime, you can start small and grow your AI support without the financial risk or long-term lock-in.
A screenshot of the eesel AI pricing page, highlighting the transparent, flat-fee plans that contrast with the credit-based model of Lorikeet AI.Is Lorikeet AI right for you? Setup, testing, and alternatives
Beyond the features and price tag, you have to think about what it’s actually like to get a new AI platform up and running.
The "heavy lift" implementation
Lorikeet’s focus on custom workflows and its "get a demo" model are strong clues that the setup is not a simple, weekend project. It's likely a time-consuming process that requires dedicated technical folks to get all the deep integrations working just right. That approach isn't ideal for modern support teams who need to move fast and want to manage their own tools without calling a developer for every small tweak.
A workflow diagram showcasing the simple, self-serve implementation process of eesel AI, contrasting with the "heavy lift" setup of Lorikeet AI.Can you test Lorikeet AI with confidence?
While Lorikeet mentions testing, their website isn't clear on the specifics of how it works. A "black box" testing process, where you can't see exactly how the AI figures out its answers, can make it hard to build trust in the system before you let it talk to your customers.
This is a really important step, and it’s why eesel AI built a transparent simulation mode. It lets you test your AI setup on thousands of your own past tickets in a safe sandbox. You can see exactly how the AI would have replied to real customer questions, get an accurate forecast of its resolution rate and cost savings, and fine-tune its behavior before it ever has a single live interaction.
A screenshot of the eesel AI simulation mode, where users can test the AI on past tickets and see projected automation rates, a transparent feature compared to the opaque testing process of Lorikeet AI.Moving to a complete AI support strategy
Lorikeet is focused on its fully autonomous agent. And while that's a powerful idea, a well-rounded AI strategy often includes tools that help your human agents, not just replace them. Relying too much on full automation can leave your team without the tools they need to be faster and more effective at their jobs.
This is why it's worth looking for a more complete platform. eesel AI offers a full suite of products designed for your entire support operation. This includes an AI Copilot that helps human agents by drafting replies, an AI Triage tool that automatically routes and tags tickets to keep your inbox organized, and an AI Internal Chat for instant employee support. This approach makes eesel AI a partner for your whole team, not just a one-trick pony for automation.
A screenshot of the eesel AI Copilot drafting a reply within an email client, showing how it assists human agents, which is a broader approach than the full automation focus of Lorikeet AI.Final thoughts on Lorikeet AI: The future of AI support is about simplicity and control
Lorikeet AI is a capable platform for businesses that need to automate very specific, complex workflows and have the budget and technical team for a long, hands-on implementation. It’s a tool built to solve a particular type of problem.
However, for most modern support teams, the unpredictable pricing and a setup process that isn't fast or self-serve will be major hurdles. The future of AI in customer support isn't just about raw power; it's about putting that power in the hands of the teams who use it every day. The best tools are simple to manage, transparent about what they cost, and easy to control.
Take the next step
If you're looking for an AI support platform that you can set up in minutes, test with total confidence, and scale with a predictable budget, give eesel AI a try for free and see for yourself how quickly you can get started.
Frequently asked questions
Lorikeet AI operates as an "AI concierge" designed to actively resolve customer issues by following your company's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Unlike basic chatbots that primarily pull FAQ articles, Lorikeet AI performs actions to get things done.
Lorikeet AI connects to your business systems via APIs, allowing it to perform actions like managing tickets, issuing refunds, or rescheduling appointments. This enables it to automate intricate, rule-based processes that typically require human intervention.
Lorikeet AI is best suited for businesses with complex support needs, particularly in regulated industries such as fintech and healthcare. Its design allows it to safely manage sensitive tasks like replacing debit cards or triaging medical questions.
Lorikeet AI uses a credit-based pricing model, where you pay per "successfully resolved ticket." This makes monthly costs unpredictable, as your bill can fluctuate significantly based on the volume and complexity of issues the AI resolves.
The information available suggests that Lorikeet AI does not offer a free trial. Instead, potential users are directed to "Get a demo," indicating a more sales-driven evaluation process rather than a self-serve testing experience.
Implementing Lorikeet AI is described as a "heavy lift," often requiring a significant time investment and dedicated technical personnel. This is due to the need for deep, custom integrations with various business systems through APIs.
