3CX AI Server Requirements

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3CX call transcription now runs on the 3CX AI Server — a transcription engine that works alongside your PBX. Whether you're planning to run it yourself or have a provider like us run it for you, here is exactly what it requires.

// Requirement 1: the licence

The AI Server is part of 3CX's AI Edition licence tier. Your PBX needs an AI Edition licence — 16SC as a minimum — to use the AI Server option. You can check which licence you hold in seconds in the 3CX Admin Console under your licence settings.

If you're not on AI Edition, it's a licence upgrade — talk to whoever manages your 3CX licensing, or ask us and we'll check it together.

// Requirement 2: the 3CX version

The AI Server needs 3CX v20 Update 10 or newer. Update 10 has been rolling out in beta with the stable release imminent:

• On Update 10 beta? You're ready today.
• On an older release? Upgrade to Update 10 — but if you aren't hosting the PBX yourself, ask your hosting partner first so the upgrade happens with them, not against them.

// Requirement 3: the hardware

The AI Server runs the transcription engine locally — a converter, a transcriber and an analyser, with the models stored on the machine. That means the hardware needs real memory and disk. Two supported platforms:

• An Apple Silicon Mac — the M-series mini form factor is the natural fit: quiet, low-power, and the unified memory suits the engine. This is what Pipertech runs.
• A Debian server — if your estate is Linux-first, the same engine runs on Debian.

Whichever you choose, plan for disk space for the models and enough RAM to run them comfortably — the engine works hard during calls, so a modern machine with room to spare beats an old one pushed to its limits.

// How it connects to your PBX

The connection is generated from your side, in a few clicks:

• In your 3CX Admin Console — go to Integrations, then Transcription, and choose to add an AI Server. 3CX generates a secure connection link (tied to your PBX's identity).
• The link is run on the AI server — by you, or by your provider. It authorises the AI server to receive your PBX's calls.
• That's the whole install. Calls transcribe; transcripts and sentiment scores land back in your 3CX GUI.

One AI server can serve multiple PBXes — a single box can carry a whole fleet of customer systems, which is exactly how a managed service works.

// What it gives you

Once connected, every call is transcribed and analysed: accurate, searchable text delivered into the 3CX GUI, with sentiment scores on each call. Recordings are deleted after transcription — the text is what stays.

// Self-hosted or managed?

You've now read the requirements, so you can price the real question: who runs it? Self-hosting means the licence, the hardware, the updates, the monitoring and the failover planning are all yours. Managed (that's us) means we run the AI servers on our own Apple Silicon hardware in a UK datacentre, your PBX connects in a few clicks, and it's billed as a monthly minute bundle from £39 — UK data, UK jurisdiction, no hardware, no maintenance.

Either route starts the same way: check your licence and version.