> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.telnyx.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start WhatsApp Conversations with an AI Assistant

> Start a WhatsApp conversation from the business side with a Telnyx AI Assistant. The assistant sends an approved template, and the customer's reply continues in the same conversation.

# Start WhatsApp Conversations with an AI Assistant

Use [`POST /v2/ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/chat/whatsapp`](/api-reference/assistants/assistant-whatsapp-chat) to reach out to a customer first. The assistant picks one of its approved WhatsApp templates, fills the variables from your `content`, and Telnyx sends it. When the customer replies, the reply lands in the same conversation and the assistant answers free-form within the 24-hour customer service window.

## Prerequisites

* A connected WhatsApp number on your account. See the [quickstart](/docs/messaging/whatsapp/quickstart).
* The assistant set as the AI assistant on that number's messaging profile. Replies are routed through the profile's assistant, so a request with any other assistant is rejected.
* A `whatsapp_template` tool on the assistant with at least one [approved template](/docs/messaging/whatsapp/manage-templates).
* Data retention enabled and PII redaction disabled in the assistant's privacy settings.

## Send the first message

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/chat/whatsapp" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "from": "+13125550001",
    "to": "+13125550002",
    "content": "Send the login verification code 482913 to the customer.",
    "conversation_metadata": {"order_id": "A1"}
  }'
```

| Field | Required | Description |
| - | - | - |
| `from` | Yes | Your WhatsApp number in E.164 format. |
| `to` | Yes | The customer's number in E.164 format, or their WhatsApp business-scoped user ID. |
| `content` | Yes | Instruction for the assistant, including the values for the template variables. |
| `conversation_metadata` | No | Values stored on the conversation. Keys starting with `telnyx_` and the `assistant_id` key are reserved. |

The response returns the conversation and the sent template message:

```json theme={null}
{
  "conversation_id": "59f1f39e-180c-4f5d-81e9-393b46ca4077",
  "message_id": "4031a0e8-f724-4e22-a086-0f18720ac829"
}
```

Track delivery of `message_id` with your usual [messaging webhooks](/docs/messaging/whatsapp/send-messages), and read the conversation's messages, including the customer's reply, with the [conversations API](/api-reference/conversations/get-conversation-messages).

## Errors

| Status | Meaning |
| - | - |
| `400` | Invalid or missing fields, a reserved metadata key, an invalid `from` or `to`, or the assistant is not the one set on the `from` number's messaging profile. |
| `401` | The API key is missing or invalid. |
| `403` | The `from` number is not on your account, or the account is inactive, blocked, unverified or has messaging disabled. |
| `404` | The assistant does not exist. |
| `409` | The `from` number's messaging profile is disabled, or a request with the same `Idempotency-Key` is still being processed. |
| `413` | The request has an `Idempotency-Key` and its body is larger than 256 KB. |
| `422` | The assistant did not return a template, its privacy settings do not allow storing conversations, or an `Idempotency-Key` was reused with a different body. |
| `503` | The assistant could not be reached, or the conversation or template send failed. Retry the request. |