The Run AI Agent action lets an automation start a Tern chat for you, with instructions you set in advance. When the automation fires, Tern opens a chat with your AI agent, attaches the relevant trip, and runs your instructions.
If you are interesting in joining this beta sign up here.
What it does
Run AI Agent is a new automation action that lets you create an AI chat based on existing automation triggers. Instead of opening a chat and asking the agent to do something every time, you write the instructions once inside an automation. When the trigger conditions are met, Tern starts the chat for you and runs those instructions against the trip that fired the automation.
This is useful for any repeatable task you'd otherwise ask the agent to do by hand, such as reviewing a trip, checking for missing details, or drafting a follow-up.
How it works
You add Run AI Agent as an action on an automation. You give the agent a set of instructions (for example, "Review this trip"). When the automation triggers, Tern creates a new chat, attaches the trip that triggered it, and runs your instructions. The result appears in your chats under Recents or Waiting for Input.
If the agent's response requires you to act on something, the chat moves to the Waiting for input section of your chats.
Key terms
Run AI Agent: The action that starts a chat and runs your instructions automatically.
Agent instructions: The text you write in the action telling the agent what to do when the chat starts.
How to set up a Run AI Agent automation
Steps
Go to your Library and open Automations.
Create a new automation. Give it a clear name so you can find it later.
Set the trigger.
Add the Run AI Agent action. Select Run AI Agent. This creates a chat in Tern with the instructions you provide.
Write your agent instructions. Type what you want the agent to do, for example "Review this trip." You can add more detail about how you want it reviewed.
Add more actions if you want, then save. You can add other actions to the same automation.
Connect the automation to a workflow (optional but recommended).
You'll know it worked when
A new chat appears in your chats under Recents with your instructions as the title, the trip attached, and a lightning bolt label showing it was triggered via an automation. Open the chat to see the agent's response.
Examples
Review trip when a trip moves to booked status
Send a personalized email when a trip is ready for client review
Common questions
The chat didn't appear after the trigger. Check that the automation's trigger is set to the correct status and timing, and that the automation is added to the trip directly or to a workflow that applies to that trip. Confirm it ran in the trip's Audit → Automations tab.
The agent's response needs my input. If the agent's response includes an action for you to take, the chat moves to the Waiting for input section of your chats. Open it there to continue.