How to turn on AI replies for Instagram DMs
Updated
Quick answer
To turn on AI replies for Instagram DMs, open Automations → Rules in LUME Hub, scroll to the backup AI panel, switch it to active, describe the personality and tone, set the daily reply limit and click Salvar IA (Save AI). The AI only answers when no rule matches, and always in a private message.
The AI reply is the safety net of your Instagram automations: when a message comes in that no rule understands, the AI answers in your tone instead of leaving the person hanging. It lives on the same screen as your rules, in the Automations app (Complete plan). If you don't have rules yet, start with how to set up an Instagram DM auto reply.
The automation screens currently show their labels in Portuguese, so each label is quoted as it appears, followed by its meaning.
When does the AI reply?
The AI only steps in at the end of the line:
- The Hub first looks for an active rule that matches the text. If one matches, the rule replies and the AI stays out.
- If no rule matches, the AI is on and the message has text, the AI writes the reply.
- If the daily limit has been reached, the message gets no reply and shows in History as "Ignorado" ("Ignored").
The AI always replies privately: in the DM, or through the private reply when the message came from a comment. It never comments publicly. Its fixed instructions ask for 1 to 3 short sentences in Portuguese and forbid making up prices or promising things it doesn't know.
Step by step
- Open Automações → Regras (Automations → Rules) and scroll to the Resposta com IA (reserva) ("Backup AI reply") panel.
- Turn on the Ativa ("Active") switch. The note on screen explains that the AI answers in your tone when no rule matches, and that leaving it off means only rules reply.
- In Personalidade / instruções ("Personality / instructions"), say who the AI is and what it should do, for example: "You are the barbershop's assistant. Be friendly and direct, and offer to book an appointment."
- In Tom ("Tone"), describe how it should sound, such as "relaxed, friendly".
- In Limite de respostas por dia ("Daily reply limit"), set the cap. The default is 50; 0 means no limit.
- In Mensagem de encerramento (opcional) ("Closing message, optional"), add a sign-off line. The AI uses something similar when it makes sense to wrap up.
- Click Salvar IA ("Save AI"). You'll see "IA salva ✓" ("AI saved").
How to see what the AI answered
Open History: each AI reply is tagged "por IA" ("by AI"), with the message received and the reply sent. Rule replies are tagged "por regra" ("by rule"). See how to check your Instagram automation history.
How to turn it off
Go back to the backup AI panel, turn off Ativa and click Salvar IA. From then on only rules reply, and messages without a matching rule show as "Ignorado" in History.
If the AI is on but not replying, check the daily limit and the other causes in Instagram auto reply not working.
Frequently asked questions
Does the AI reply publicly to comments?
No. On a comment with no matching rule, the AI uses the private reply, which lands in the commenter's DMs. Public replies only come from rules.
What happens when the daily limit runs out?
The AI stops replying until the next day. Messages that arrive meanwhile show in History as Ignorado (Ignored), with the reason limite_ia_diario.
Can I remove the daily limit?
Yes. With 0 in the daily limit field, the AI has no daily cap. The default is 50 replies per day.
Which language does the AI reply in?
Today the AI's fixed instructions tell it to reply in Portuguese, in 1 to 3 short sentences. For customers who write in English, cover the common questions with keyword rules written in English.
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