Use AI by Zapier to add a built-in AI action

Beta

This feature is in open beta release. It’s available for use but still in active development and may change.

Available on plans:

Free

Professional

Team

Enterprise

AI by Zapier is a built-in tool that lets you create your own action for a Zap, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o-mini. You do not need a separate AI account–everything you need is included. You can use the prompt wizard to help you write a prompt or you can select a template for common tasks. If you’re comfortable with AI prompting, you can write your own prompt from scratch.

To create an action with AI by Zapier consists of two fields:

• Prompt: describe what you want the action to do.
• Output fields: name and describe the fields that the action should create.

Note

• AI by Zapier uses large language models from Zapier’s AI Functionality Subprocessors. Your AI by Zapier step may fail if its content violates the subprocessors’ usage policies.
• AI by Zapier currently uses OpenAI’s GPT-4o-mini model but may change as new models become available. If you prefer to use a specific model, you should use another AI app action instead.

Use the prompt assistant

You can use the prompt assistant to help you write a prompt or you can select a template to complete common tasks, like creating outlines from text.

Use the prompt builder Use a template

Use the prompt builder

• In the Zap editor, click the Action step. A dialog box will open.
• In the search box, search for and select AI by Zapier. The right sidebar will open to the Setup tab with the Analyze and Return Data action event pre-selected.
• Click Initiate prompt assistant. The right sidebar will expand into focus mode.

Prompt assistant section

• In the Select assistant mode field, Prompt Builder will be preselected in the dropdown menu.
• In the Describe your desired action field, enter a description of the what you want the step to do.
• Click Generate prompt.
• A new section, Input fields will appear with one or more fields below.
  • These fields provide additional context to the prompt.
  • In each field, manually enter a value or map a field from a previous step. These fields will be automatically added to the prompt.

Configure prompt section

• In the Prompt field, review the content and edit as needed.
• In the Output fields fields, review the field names and descriptions and edit as needed.
  • The first column is where you enter the name of the output field.
  • The second column is where you describe the kinds of values the action should return.
  • You can map these fields to subsequent steps in your Zap.
  • If you do not set up output fields, the output will include a generic Results field.
• If you need to add additional output fields, click + Add output fields.

Once you finish these two sections:

• Click Continue.
• Click Test step.

Use a template

• In the Zap editor, click the Action step. A dialog box will open.
• In the search box, search for and select AI by Zapier. The right sidebar will open to the Setup tab with the Analyze and Return Data action event pre-selected.
• Click Initiate prompt assistant. The right sidebar will switch to the Configure tab and expand into focus mode.

Prompt assistant section

• Click the Select assistant mode field to open the dropdown menu.
• Select Templates.
• Click the Select template field to open the dropdown menu.
• Select a template. A new section, Input fields will appear with one or more fields below.
  • These fields provide additional context to the prompt.
  • In each field, manually enter a value or map a field from a previous step. These fields will be automatically added to the prompt.
  • Learn more about available templates.

Configure prompt section

• In the Prompt field, review the content and edit as needed.
• In the Output fields fields, review the field names and descriptions and edit as needed.
  • The first column is where you enter the name of the output field.
  • The second column is where you describe the kinds of values the action should return.
  • You can map these fields to subsequent steps in your Zap.
  • If you do not set up output fields, the output will include a generic Results field.
• If you need to add additional output fields, click + Add output fields.

Once you finish these two sections:

• Click Continue.
• Click Test step.

Write your own prompt

If you’re comfortable with AI prompting, you can write your own prompt from scratch.

• In the Zap editor, click the Action step. A dialog box will open.
• In the search box, search for and select AI by Zapier. The right sidebar will open to the Setup tab with the Analyze and Return Data action event pre-selected.
• At the top of the right sidebar, select the Configure tab.
• In the Prompt field, enter your prompt.
• (Optional) In the Output fields step:
  • Enter a field name in the left column.
  • Enter a description of the field in the right column.
  • Click + Add output fields to create any additional output fields.
• Click Continue to proceed to the Test tab.
• Click Test step.

Tip

• Learn how to write an effective AI prompt.
• If you need advanced AI controls, you can use one of the many AI apps on Zapier.

Limitations

• You can only use AI by Zapier with text. It does not support images or files.
• AI by Zapier does not store data from previous actions to learn from. Each time an AI by Zapier action runs, the AI is reset to a blank state.