The AI Voice Agent in Instantly is an interactive, voice-based assistant powered by conversational AI that can speak directly with prospects or customers in real time.
Website Voice Widget
Embeds directly on your website via a simple
<script>snippet.Allows site visitors to click and start an instant spoken conversation through their browser microphone (no phone connection or dialing required).
Ideal for greeting visitors, answering product questions, qualifying leads, and driving demo bookings or signups.
Phone Calling Agent
Connects to a dedicated workspace phone number.
Handles inbound or outbound phone calls.
Ideal for phone-based lead qualification, callback handling, and appointment scheduling.
Step 1: Create the Agent
Navigate to Agents from the left sidebar
Click "+ Create New"
Select AI Voice Agent
Step 2: Set Up in Instantly AI
You will be redirected to Instantly AI to configure your AI Voice Agent.
Choose Where the Agent Interacts
Phone calls: Talk to people over the phone using a connected phone number.
Website widget: Let visitors start a voice conversation directly on your website without a phone number.
Choose the Primary Role and Goal
Lead qualification & booking: Engage visitors, ask qualifying questions, and guide them to book a demo or meeting.
Product Q&A & Support: Answer visitor questions about your product, features, and pricing in real time.
Outbound outreach & follow-up: Introduce your offering, follow up on previous interactions, or re-engage leads.
Other: Define a different role or goal for your AI Voice Agent.
Set the Escalation Contact
Provide the contact information the agent should share when callers request an escalation or callback:
Support email: Route escalations and follow-ups to your support email address.
Direct contact: Enter a direct phone number or alternative team email address.
Step 3: Approve Action to Create
Once approved, your AI Voice Agent will be created.
Click Open to review the AI Voice Agent in the right panel.
Click the arrow icon to open the agent in full-page view in the current tab.
Next steps for Phone calls
Connect a Phone Number: If there are no active phone numbers connected to your workspace, connect a phone number in Voice Settings to start receiving or placing calls.
Personalization Variables: The agent is configured with
{{ first_name }}(defaulting to "there"). You can map additional incoming lead fields in the agent drawer as needed.
Next steps for Website Widget
Copy the embed code: Copy the embed code and add it to your website.
Install the widget: Add the script before the closing
</body>tag on an allowed website. HTTPS and microphone access are required. If your site sets Permissions-Policy, allow microphone access for the voice assistant iframe origin.Add Allowed Websites: Confirm the domain or URL where you’ll install the widget, such as
https://yourdomain.com. We'll need to add it to your allowed origins list so the widget can connect securely.
Step 4: Review Settings Before Launch
Agent Configuration
Configure the voice, language, and instructions your AI Voice Agent uses during calls.
Agent name: Enter a name for your AI Voice Agent.
Language: Select the language the agent should use.
Voice: Select the voice for the agent.
Instructions: Add instructions for how the agent should behave during calls. We append non-editable instructions to every agent:
Immediately honor any do-not-call request.
Never claim to be human.
Confirm that the call is recorded when recording is enabled.
Provide the configured callback phone number or email address when requested.
First message: Enter the opening message the agent uses when a call starts. You can click the + icon to insert variables. For example: “Hi {{first_name}}, thanks for calling Instantly! How can I help you today?”
What we add to your first message: The disclosure below is appended to your first message and is spoken in the agent’s language. It cannot be edited or removed.
Just so you know, I’m an AI assistant calling on behalf of Instantly, and this call is recorded.Dynamic variables: Declare variables you can insert into the prompt, first message, and tools using the "/" picker. Values are supplied per call.
Click Save Changes to apply your updates.
Business identity
Business name: Enter your business name.
Callback number or email: Enter the phone number or email address the agent should provide when someone asks how to reach you or requests a callback. The agent reads a number out or spells an address letter by letter. It is added to the agent’s instructions automatically and cannot be edited.
Click Save Changes to apply your updates.
Model & creativity
Choose the LLM that powers the conversation and how creative it should sound.
Click Save Changes to apply your updates.
Phone number
You can purchase US numbers from us or connect a number from your provider.
Done For You: Purchase US numbers from us
Twilio
SIP Trunk
After assigning a caller number, make sure to click Save Changes to apply your updates.
Limits
Max call duration (seconds): Calls are ended automatically after this many seconds.
Click Save Changes to apply your updates.
Recording & Disclosure
Control whether calls are recorded and what your agent always tells the person it calls.
Calls are recorded so you can play them back here. Recordings are deleted after 90 days.
Click Save Changes to apply your updates.
Step 5: Place a test call
Call a phone number directly to test how your AI Voice Agent sounds.
Enter phone number: Use E.164 format, including the country code.
Variable values: Enter values for any dynamic variables used by your agent.
Place the test call and review the agent’s voice, responses, and behavior.
Step 6: Resume AI Voice Agent
Once you’ve finished testing and confirmed that everything is configured correctly, resume the AI Voice Agent to start handling calls.
