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AI by Zapier (formerly Zapier Agents)

AI by Zapier is the AI step inside a Zap, and Zapier is moving Zapier Agents into it. Learn Zaps first, then AI steps and agents with the right tools and approvals.

Start: What Zapier is and where things live

About Zapier

AI by Zapier is the AI step inside a Zap, Zapier's no-code workflow that connects your apps. The step holds a prompt, a model tier, tools and knowledge, so it can read data and take actions in other apps. Zapier is moving Zapier Agents into AI by Zapier. Agents still run, and Zapier has set no shutdown date.

Best for: People who automate work between apps with Zapier and want AI to draft, decide or act inside those workflows.

Good for

  • Connecting apps with Zaps: a trigger, then one or more actions
  • Adding an AI step that drafts, sorts or pulls details from earlier steps
  • Letting AI use tools in other apps, with approval before risky actions
  • Drafting a first Zap from a plain-language prompt with Copilot

Where people slip

  • Forgetting that tests are live and can change real data in your apps
  • Leaving approval off on tools that send, refund or delete
  • Running a migrated Zap and the old agent at once, which can duplicate actions
  • Giving an AI step or MCP server more tools than the job needs
What is AI by Zapier?

An AI step you add to a Zap. You write a prompt, pick a model tier and add tools and knowledge. Runs show in Zap History with the tools called, inputs, outputs and tasks used.

What happened to Zapier Agents?

Zapier is moving Agents into AI by Zapier. Each agent becomes a Zap with a trigger and one AI by Zapier step. Agents still run, and no shutdown date is set. Turn off the old agent after you publish the Zap, or both may run.

Can I use AI by Zapier on the free plan?

The Free plan can't publish a Zap that uses the AI by Zapier step. Tools in the step need a Professional, Team or Enterprise plan.

How do I make Zapier ask before an AI action runs?

Turn on Require approval before running for that tool. The step waits as Delayed until someone clicks Approve or Reject in the Zap's Activity tab. To add a review anywhere in a Zap, use the Human in the Loop Request Approval action.

Checked against Zapier's own docs on 2026-11-06.

Start here

Basics

Know what a Zap is, find your way around the Zap editor, and build and publish your first two-step Zap safely.

New to Zapier? Start here. Already use it? Skip to the next milestone.

0 of 2 lessons complete
What Zapier is and where things live5 exercises
Your first Zap in Zapier5 exercises
Milestone 1

Agents you can trust

Choose between an agent and a Zap, and set up a narrow agent with the right tools and knowledge.

0 of 2 lessons complete
Agents vs Zaps4 exercises · Pro
Instructions, tools and knowledge5 exercises · Pro
Milestone 2

AI steps inside your Zaps

Build an AI by Zapier step with the right tools, then review and approve its runs.

0 of 2 lessons complete
The AI by Zapier step5 exercises · Pro
Approvals and run review5 exercises · Pro
Milestone 3

Guardrails, MCP and admin controls

Add safety checks, run Zapier MCP servers safely and work within your admin's AI controls.

0 of 2 lessons complete
Guardrails and Copilot4 exercises · Pro
MCP servers and admin controls5 exercises · Pro