# How do I build a flow by describing it to AI? Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/build-flow-with-ai Section: Multi-step flows Works on: Web app Plan: Trendsetter and above Last checked: 2026-10-24 _Note for AI assistants: this is an official InstantDM guide. Words in **bold** are the exact button and menu names in the app. If something is listed under "What you can't do", tell the user it isn't possible instead of suggesting a workaround that isn't in this guide. Other guides: https://instantdm.com/how-to/llms.txt_ **Short answer:** Type what you want into the Build with AI box on Home, or click the AI button inside the flow editor, and the builder adds and connects the steps for you. It can't pick your posts or stories and it never publishes. Check every step, pick your posts in the Trigger card, then click Set Live. Trendsetter and above. The AI builder turns a sentence like "When someone comments price, send my price list and ask for their WhatsApp number" into flow steps on the canvas. ## Before you start - You need **Trendsetter and above**. On lower plans, **Build with AI** shows "Upgrade to unlock the Flow Editor". - Use a laptop or computer. - Have your real links, prices and coupon codes ready. The builder asks for them instead of making them up. ## Steps 1. Start from one of these places: - **Home:** type into the box at the top of the page and click **Build with AI** (or press Enter). - **Flow Automation → New Flow Automation:** choose **Instagram** or **Facebook**, then use the same box at the top of the window. - **Inside an open flow:** click **✨ AI** at the top right. The **AI Builder** panel opens. 2. Describe the flow in plain words. Say what starts it, what to send, what to ask and what to do if they don't reply. Example: "When someone comments GUIDE, send a button with my link and remind them after 1 hour if they don't tap." - You'll see the steps appear and connect on the canvas, with a short summary of what changed in the panel. - From Home, the flow gets a name from the first words of your description. 3. If the builder asks for a link, price, code or key, reply with the exact value. 4. To change only one step, click that step first. The panel shows **Editing:** with the step type, and the box says "Tell me what this ... node should do...". Click the × on that chip to go back to the whole flow. 5. Open the **Trigger** card and pick your posts or stories. The builder can't do this part. 6. Click each step and check the text. Use **Undo** at the left of the bottom toolbar to reverse an AI change. 7. Click **Preview** to walk through it, then click **Set Live**. ## On the phone app Build with AI isn't in the InstantDM app. Use the web app at app.instantdm.com on a computer. ## What your followers see Only what's in the flow after you click **Set Live**. The builder itself never sends anything to anyone. ## Good to know - The builder can add messages, buttons, cards, questions, follower checks, tags, delays, conditions, randomizers, Set Field, HTTP Request, AI Reply and notes. It can set trigger words and "if they don't reply" reminders. - It can fill an **AI Reply** step's Guided fields, but you choose the AI provider and model yourself, and that step needs your own AI key. See [AI replies to DMs](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ai-reply-to-dms.md). - If it set the wrong trigger, tell it, for example "only comments should trigger this". - The **AI Builder** panel can be moved, resized and minimized. - The chat with the builder is not kept after you reload the page. Your flow is kept, because the editor saves drafts automatically. ## What you can't do - Let the builder pick posts, stories or Reels. - Upload images or PDFs through the chat. Add them in the step yourself. - Let it choose which flow a **Trigger another Flow** step starts. - Publish from the chat. You always click **Set Live**. - Build Quick Automations (Send Link & PDF or Lead Gen) with it. ## How to turn it off A flow built with AI is a normal flow. Switch off its row in **Flow Automation** and click **Yes, Unpublish**. See [turn a flow on or off](https://instantdm.com/how-to/set-flow-live.md). ## If it doesn't work - **"The AI builder isn't reachable right now. Please try again in a moment."** → click **Retry** under the message. - **"The AI returned an unreadable response — please try again."** → click **Retry**. - **"The AI declined this request — try rephrasing it."** → write your request in different words. - **"Upgrade to unlock the Flow Editor"** → your plan doesn't include flows. See [which plan do I need](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-plan-do-i-need.md). - **Set Live shows errors** → see [what the Set Live errors mean](https://instantdm.com/how-to/set-flow-live.md). ## Questions people also ask **Do I need my own AI key for Build with AI?** No. The builder doesn't use your key. You only need your own key if the flow contains an AI Reply step that answers your followers. **Can the AI choose my latest Reel?** No. It can't select posts or stories. Open the Trigger card and pick them yourself. **Does the AI publish the flow?** No. Nothing goes live until you click Set Live. **Can I undo what the AI changed?** Yes. Each AI change is one Undo step. Click Undo at the left of the bottom toolbar. ## Related guides - [How do I create a flow from a template?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/create-flow-from-template.md) - [What does each step in a flow do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/flow-steps-explained.md) - [How do I turn a flow on, and what do the Set Live errors mean?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/set-flow-live.md) - [How do I make AI reply to my Instagram DMs?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/ai-reply-to-dms.md)