Transform your standard chatbots into intelligent conversational partners. BotSailor's seamless integration with leading AI models from OpenAI and DeepSeek empowers you to build truly dynamic and responsive user experiences.
Whether you're looking to automate sophisticated customer support or design engaging marketing funnels, this guide will walk you through harnessing the power of advanced AI. You'll learn how to configure your API keys, select the ideal model, and customize default behaviors, all within minutes.
By connecting AI to your workflows, you unlock powerful new capabilities:
Human-like Conversation: Move beyond rigid scripts. Leverage Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to interpret user intent and provide fluid, intelligent replies.
Context-Aware Assistance: Utilize powerful models like GPT-4 to remember conversational context, enabling your bot to provide relevant, multi-step assistance without losing track.
Intelligent Automation: Automate complex tasks by designing smart prompts. From qualifying leads to troubleshooting technical issues, let AI handle the repetitive work so your team can focus on high-value interactions.
Branded & Customized Responses: Tailor the AI’s personality and knowledge base with custom instructions. Ensure every interaction is perfectly aligned with your brand's voice, tone, and guidelines.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up AI Integration
From your BotSailor dashboard, navigate to the Control Panel section in the main menu.
In the left-hand sidebar that appears, click on AI (Integration).
Choose between OpenAI or DeepSeek.
Your selection will determine which AI models and settings are available in the steps below. For this guide, we will use OpenAI as the example.
To allow BotSailor to communicate with your chosen AI provider, you must provide a "Secret Key."
First, generate a secret API key from your provider's platform:
For OpenAI: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys
For DeepSeek: https://platform.deepseek.com/api_keys
Once you have your key, copy it.
In BotSailor, paste it into the SECRET KEY input field.
Security Warning: Treat your API key like a password. Never share it publicly. It grants direct access to your AI provider account and is linked to your billing.
Click the Select Model dropdown menu to choose the specific AI model you want your chatbot to use.
Pro-Tip: Choosing the Right Model Models vary in capability, speed, and cost.
For Speed & Cost-Effectiveness: Models like gpt-4o-mini are fantastic for general conversation, quick Q&A, and simple tasks. They provide a great balance of performance and affordability.
For Maximum Power & Reasoning: More advanced models like gpt-4o are ideal for complex instructions, detailed content generation, data analysis, or multi-step problem-solving.
Always refer to your provider's official pricing page to understand the costs associated with each model.
This is the most important step for tailoring the AI's personality and function. In the Instruction to AI text box, you provide a "system prompt" that acts as a permanent set of rules for every AI-generated response.
A weak instruction like "You are an AI assistant" will produce generic results. Be specific for the best performance.
Example of a Powerful Instruction:
You are "SailorBot," a friendly and helpful customer support agent for a company called "GadgetFlow."
Your primary goal is to answer questions about our products (smartphones, headphones, chargers) and help with order tracking.
Always maintain a cheerful and professional tone.
If you don't know the answer, politely state: "That's a great question. Let me connect you to a human agent who can help."
Do not answer questions that are not related to GadgetFlow products or services.
Keep your answers concise and easy to understand, using bullet points for lists.
This detailed instruction tells the AI its name, role, company, primary tasks, tone, and what to do when it can't help. The more specific your instructions, the better the AI's performance will be.
This is an advanced option primarily for agency users or those managing multiple clients under one account.
By enabling Force User API, you require each sub-user (or client) to enter their own API key. This ensures that their individual AI usage is billed directly to their own provider account, not to your master account. Leave this disabled if you are the only user or want all usage billed through your master key.
Once you are satisfied with your configuration, click the blue Save button at the bottom of the screen to apply all your changes.
Congratulations! Your AI integration is now active. You can begin using AI-powered actions within your chatbot flows, such as "AI Reply," to create dynamic and intelligent responses.
To get the most out of your AI integration, follow these best practices.
Your secret API key is the direct link to your AI provider's account and billing. Treat it with the highest level of security.
Never share it in public forums or client-side code.
If you ever suspect your key has been compromised, go to your provider's dashboard and regenerate it immediately.
Don't use the most powerful (and expensive) model for every task. Strategically selecting a model is key to balancing performance and cost.
For high-volume, simple tasks like basic Q&A or quick follow-ups, use faster, more affordable models like gpt-4o-mini. This ensures snappy replies and keeps your costs down.
For complex reasoning, such as summarizing a long customer issue or following multi-step instructions, use a more powerful model like gpt-4o.
Your "Instruction to AI" is the single most important tool for controlling the AI's behavior. A detailed prompt is the difference between a generic chatbot and a specialized, brand-aligned assistant.
A great system prompt should clearly define the AI's:
Role: Is it a friendly support agent, a professional sales assistant, or a quirky brand mascot?
Tone: Formal and professional, Casual and witty, or Helpful and empathetic?
Rules: What should it always do? (e.g., "Always ask for the customer's name first.")
Boundaries: What should it never do? (e.g., "Never discuss pricing; instead, refer the user to the sales team.")
Never deploy AI changes without thorough testing. Give it a try to your own test chatbot to interact with your AI in a safe sandbox environment.
Ask it difficult questions.
Try to confuse it or take it "off-script."
Based on its responses, go back and refine your system prompt until it behaves exactly as you intend.
By integrating AI into BotSailor, you are unlocking the ability to transform your chatbots from simple, scripted responders into intelligent digital agents. The setup process takes only a few minutes, but the impact is profound.
You can now build automated experiences that deliver true personalization, drive efficiency in your support and marketing, and create lasting engagement with your audience. The era of smarter, more human-like automation is here. The only question left is: what will you build first?
What is the purpose of integrating AI APIs in BotSailor?
AI integration allows your chatbot to provide smart, context-aware responses using models like OpenAI's GPT or DeepSeek, enhancing automation, support, and conversational experiences.
Which AI providers are supported by BotSailor?
Currently, BotSailor supports OpenAI and DeepSeek for AI integration.
Where can I find the AI integration settings in BotSailor?
Go to Settings → AI (Integration) under the Administration section in your BotSailor dashboard.
How do I obtain an API key for integration?
Create your API key from the respective provider:
Can I choose which AI model to use?
Yes. Once you've entered your API key, you can choose from available models like gpt-4o-mini or gpt-4o via a dropdown menu.
What does the "Instruction to AI" field do?
This field sets the system prompt or base instruction for the AI model, which controls the tone and behavior of responses. For example: “You are an AI assistant.”
What is the "Force User to Use Own API Key" option?
This optional setting, when enabled, requires sub-users or clients to enter and use their own API keys rather than sharing a global key.
What should I do after completing the setup?
Click the Save button to apply your integration and settings.
Are there any best practices for AI integration in BotSailor?
Can I switch between OpenAI and DeepSeek later?
Yes, you can switch providers anytime by toggling the selection in the AI Integration settings and updating your API key and model.