Guided (no-AI) bots
Not every bot needs AI. A guided bot follows a fixed script of buttons and menus — predictable, free of AI costs, and great for structured tasks.
When to use guided mode
- Menu-driven support (“Press 1 for orders…”).
- Lead capture and qualification.
- Bookings and simple FAQs where answers are fixed.
Build one
- Create an agent and set its mode to Guided — the AI fields disappear; no key needed.
- Design the conversation in the flow builder using message, button, question and form steps.
- Connect it to WhatsApp or the web widget and publish.
✅ Mix and match: start guided, then hand specific branches to an AI agent when you want free-form understanding.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a bot without any AI key?
Yes. Set the agent's mode to Guided — it follows a fixed script of buttons and menus with no AI key and no AI cost.
When should I use a guided bot instead of AI?
For structured, predictable tasks: menu-driven support, lead qualification, bookings and fixed-answer FAQs. You can hand specific branches to an AI agent when free-form understanding is needed.