A trigger decides when an automation runs. Pick one per automation.
Which triggers can start a Speak AI automation?
The automation canvas offers six triggers, each firing on a different Speak AI event.
- Media analyzed in folder: runs on each new media file in the folders you pick, as it finishes processing. The default for score-every-call and extract-on-arrival workflows.
- Field value updated: runs when the value of a custom field you are watching changes. Pick at least one field to watch.
- New recording received: runs when someone submits a recording to one of the recorders you pick. Pick at least one recorder.
- New clip generated: runs when a clip finishes rendering in the folders you pick.
- AI chat answered in folder: runs when an AI chat answer completes in the folders you pick. Only chats scoped to a folder qualify.
- Catch inbound webhook: an external tool starts the run by sending an HTTP request, so Zapier, Make, or your own script can hand work to Speak AI.
How do you run an automation on a schedule?
Scheduled runs are a Run mode on the folder trigger, not a separate trigger. Open the trigger and set Run mode to Schedule: run on a recurring schedule to run across a folder on a cadence, for digests and batch jobs. The default is Instant: when a file finishes processing. Schedule mode needs a folder trigger with at least one step, and stays greyed out until you have one.
What can you configure on the new recording trigger?
The New recording received trigger takes a list of recorders and a Wait for analysis to finish switch, which is on by default.
- On: the automation runs after the recording is analyzed, so AI steps have a transcript.
- Off: it runs the moment the recording lands, with the submitted answers only.
A recorder that does not transcribe on submission never finishes analysis, so it cannot be used with Wait for analysis to finish. The recorder picker marks those recorders auto-analyze off. Either turn the switch off for them, or turn on Transcribe & Analyze in the recorder’s settings.
What can you configure on the new clip trigger?
The New clip generated trigger takes a list of folders and an optional Generation source filter that narrows which clips qualify.
- Cut by hand, clips you trimmed yourself.
- From an AI chat, clips created out of an AI chat answer.
- AI generated, clips Speak AI produced for you.
Leave Generation source empty to fire on every clip, however it was made.
A clip is not a media file, so no step that needs media can follow this trigger directly. Add a Speak Upload step to bring the clip back in as media when a later step needs it.
What can you configure on the AI chat trigger?
The AI chat answered in folder trigger takes a list of folders and an Allow chats created by automations switch, which is off by default.
- Off: an AI step inside an automation never re-fires this trigger.
- On: chat chains are allowed, up to 5 hops.
Leave it off unless you want one automation’s answer to start another. The hop limit is what stops a chain running forever.
How do you choose a trigger?
Match the trigger to the event that should start the work. If the work belongs to one file, use Media analyzed in folder. If it summarizes many files, set Run mode to schedule. If a form submission starts it, use New recording received. If another system knows when to run, use the webhook. Scope any of them with filters so the automation only touches the media it should.
Want a hand designing the first one? Book a free consult.
Related: Automations · Filters · Actions