Configure AI Agent — OpenRouter Models & BYOK
7 min read
Quick Summary
WAutoAI uses OpenRouter to access multiple AI models through a single API. You can bring your own API key (BYOK) on the Starter plan, or use our bundled key on Pro and Enterprise plans. The system uses a fallback chain: Llama 3 → Gemma 2 → Phi 3 → GPT-4o Mini, so if one model is down, the next takes over automatically.
⚠️Prerequisites
- An active WAutoAI account with a connected WhatsApp session
- (Optional) An OpenRouter account with API credits if using BYOK — sign up at openrouter.ai
Step-by-Step Guide
Log in to your WAutoAI dashboard and navigate to the instance Settings page from the sidebar.
Under 'System Prompt', write instructions for your AI agent. Be specific about your business, tone, and what the AI should and shouldn't do.
If you want to use your own OpenRouter API key, paste it in the 'OpenRouter API Key' field. This is optional — WAutoAI provides a default key on Pro and Enterprise plans.
Choose your preferred AI model from the dropdown. Options include Llama 3 (default), Gemma 2, Phi 3, and GPT-4o Mini.
Toggle features like 'Auto Follow-ups' and 'Google Forms Logging' based on your needs.
Paste your Google Form URL if you want conversation summaries auto-logged to a Google Sheet.
Click 'Save Settings' to apply your configuration. Changes take effect immediately for new conversations.
How the AI Fallback Chain Works
WAutoAI uses a 4-tier fallback chain to ensure your business never stops responding:
Meta Llama 3 8B
Fast, free, and reliable — handles most conversations.
Google Gemma 2 9B
Kicks in if Llama 3 is rate-limited or unavailable.
Microsoft Phi 3 Mini
Lightweight fallback for basic responses.
OpenAI GPT-4o Mini
Most capable model, used only when all free models fail.
Troubleshooting
AI not responding to messages
Check that your WhatsApp session is connected (WhatsApp page in dashboard). If connected, verify your API key is valid. On Pro plans, the platform key is auto-configured — if using BYOK, ensure your OpenRouter account has credits.
AI gives generic or irrelevant replies
Improve your System Prompt. Be specific about your business, the tone you want, and what information to ask customers. Include examples of good responses. The more context you give, the better your AI agent performs.