Build AI Bots In Your Browser With Zapier Central

Introduction

Zapier continues to enhance its AI Bot Builder, Zapier Central. In this article, we will cover Zapier Central's latest feature—its Chrome extension—and how it adds more context and power to your AI bots.

Hi, I'm Dan Leman from AutomationHelpers.com, and we help businesses automate processes using industry-leading tools. Let's get you up to speed on the latest developments between Zapier and OpenAI this year.

OpenAI and Custom GPTs

OpenAI launched ChatGPT and gave users the ability to create custom GPTs—sets of instructions and actions contained in a self-contained environment. They started adding integration partners, including Zapier, which can connect to over 6,000 apps. This partnership allows users to use Zapier AI actions from custom GPTs.

The Evolution of Zapier and AI

Zapier took this relationship further with its chatbots product, using ChatGPT in the background. This product allows you to place chatbots on your website without paying for individual licenses to ChatGPT.

Then Zapier created Zapier Central, allowing users to build AI bots on their platform. This new functionality aims to create internal tools where AI Bots can boost productivity.

Introducing the Zapier Central Chrome Extension

Zapier Central now has a new Chrome extension, separate from the existing Zapier Chrome extension. Make sure you download "Zapier Central" as it's relatively new and has fewer ratings.

Why the Chrome Extension Matters

Previously, we could connect to data sources like Airtable and Notion to ask questions about our data. Now, the Chrome extension can consider the context of the website you are on and use that in conjunction with other AI features.

For example, if you're in marketing and researching YouTube content, the Chrome extension can help save YouTube channel data to Airtable automatically.

Building AI Bots: A Practical Example

I set out to create a bot for YouTube research. The first behavior I added was to upsert a YouTube channel, but due to a bug, I had to opt for simply creating a new record.

Steps to Create YouTube Channel Record

1. Create Behavior: Named it "Create YouTube Channel."
2. Set Trigger: The trigger used was messaging the bot with a keyword like "add channel."
3. Map Fields: Defined how the URL, handle, and other details should be captured and stored in Airtable.

Upon testing, the bot could create a new Airtable record with the channel's information seamlessly.

Next Steps: Create Video Records

With the channel saved, the next intention was to save individual video data:

• Trigger Keyword: Originally "add video" but changed to "create video record" due to conflicts and errors.
• Capture Details: Extracted data like video URL, publish date, and other metadata.

Relational Database Utility

Using a relational database like Airtable, I could link video records to the channel records, making it easy to navigate between related datasets.

Conclusion and Future Developments

Although Zapier Central is still riddled with some bugs, its capabilities are promising. Zapier is working hard to fix bugs and enhance functionalities.

If you have questions about building AI agents or automations for your business, don't hesitate to reach out to us at AutomationHelpers.com for a free 30-minute consultation.

Keywords

• AI Bot Builder
• Zapier Central
• Chrome Extension
• Custom GPTs
• Airtable
• YouTube Research
• Relational Database
• AutomationHelpers.com

FAQ

1. What is Zapier Central?

• Zapier Central is an AI Bot Builder platform by Zapier, allowing users to create custom AI bots and automate tasks using various data sources and integrations.

2. What is the new Chrome Extension for Zapier Central?

• The new Chrome extension allows users to take the context of the website they are on and use it with Zapier Central's AI functionalities.

3. How does the Zapier Central Chrome extension differ from the old one?

• The new extension is specifically designed for Zapier Central and offers contextual capabilities that the old Zapier extension does not provide.

4. Can I use Zapier Central for YouTube research?

• Yes, you can create AI bots to save YouTube channel and video information to Airtable or other databases, aiding in research and content creation.

5. How do I troubleshoot issues with Zapier Central?

• Since it's a new feature with some bugs, you can join a Slack channel for direct support from the Zapier Central team or reach out to AutomationHelpers.com for assistance.

6. Can I link records in Airtable using Zapier Central?

• Yes, you can create linked records, which allows you to establish relationships between different datasets, like channels and videos.