Turn Any WhatsApp Number Into an AI ChatBot with No-code (No Meta Setup Required)

The Traditional WhatsApp Bot Problem

Setting up a WhatsApp bot through Meta’s official channels can be a hassle. You’ll need to create a developer account, set up and verify a business app, go through Facebook’s business verification process, purchase and register a WhatsApp business number, and wait for Meta’s approval—just to get started.

Even with test phone numbers, you're limited - only verified users can message your bot. Not exactly ideal for a customer-facing solution.

The Easier Way: WhatsApp Sender API + BuildShip

Instead of the official Meta route, we can use a WhatsApp sender API service combined with BuildShip's automation platform to create a powerful bot with minimal setup.

Here's what you'll need:

- A spare WhatsApp number (or any number you want to turn into a bot)

- A WhatsApp sender API account

- A BuildShip account

Step 1: Connect Your WhatsApp Number

First, we'll connect your WhatsApp number to the sender API:

1. Create an account with a WhatsApp sender API service

2. Create a new WhatsApp session

3. Enter your phone number

4. Enable webhook notifications (we'll set the URL in the next step)

5. Scan the QR code with your WhatsApp app

That's it! Your number is now connected and ready to be automated.

Step 2: Create Your BuildShip Workflow

Now we'll create the automation flow that powers your bot:

1. Create a new flow in BuildShip

2. Add a REST API trigger (this will receive messages from WhatsApp)

3. Copy the webhook URL from BuildShip

4. Go back to your WhatsApp sender API and paste the webhook URL

5. Enable the "message.received" event

At this point, your WhatsApp number is connected to BuildShip, but we need to build the logic that will process messages and generate responses.

Step 3: Build Your Message Processing Flow

When someone sends a message to your WhatsApp number, it will be forwarded to your BuildShip workflow. Here's how to process it:

1. Extract the message text from the webhook payload

2. Generate a response using AI (text or image)

3. Send the response back to the user

Let's break down each step:

Extracting the Message

The webhook payload contains the message in a nested structure. We need to extract just the text content:

```javascript

// Extract message from webhook payload

const extractMessage = (event) => {

try {

return event.data.conversation.messages[0].text;

} catch (error) {

return "Could not extract message";

}

};

```

Generating AI Responses

For text responses, we can use a language model like GPT or Claude:

1. Add an AI text generator node (Claude or GPT)

2. Set a system prompt (e.g., "Be helpful and concise")

3. Pass the extracted message as the user prompt

For image responses:

1. Add a GPT image generator node

2. Use the extracted message as the image prompt

3. Add a file upload node to get a public URL for the generated image

Sending Responses Back

Finally, we need to send the response back to the user:

1. Add a "Send WhatsApp Message" node

2. Configure it with your API key

3. Set the recipient's phone number

4. Pass in your AI-generated text or image URL

The Complete Flow

Your complete BuildShip workflow will look something like this:

1. REST API trigger receives webhook from WhatsApp

2. Extract message text from the payload

3. Generate response with AI (text or image)

4. If generating an image, upload it to get a public URL

5. Send the response back to the user's WhatsApp

For a complete video guide, please click below:

What Can You Do With Your WhatsApp AI Bot?

Once your WhatsApp bot is set up, it unlocks a wide range of possibilities - from acting as a 24/7 customer support agent and qualifying leads through conversational AI, to generating images on demand, serving as a personal assistant, or even functioning as an educational tutor.

Beyond Text: Multimodal Capabilities

Your WhatsApp bot goes far beyond basic text replies. With the right workflow, it can generate and send AI images from user prompts, process and respond to incoming images, and deliver rich, formatted messages including links and more.

Conclusion

What we've accomplished here is remarkable - transforming any WhatsApp number into a fully functional AI bot without the traditional hurdles of Meta's business approval process.

This approach is ideal for quick prototyping, personal projects, and small businesses looking for a simple yet powerful WhatsApp automation solution. It’s also great for anyone who wants to experiment and explore the possibilities of building AI-driven bots without heavy setup.

Remember that while this method is quick and easy, it's designed for personal or small-scale use. For enterprise-level deployments handling sensitive data or high message volumes, you might eventually want to consider the official WhatsApp Business API.

Ready to create your own WhatsApp AI bot? Clone our template and start building today!