> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.teamfollowup.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
> ## Agent Instructions
> Use the public API base URL: https://api.teamfollowup.ai/api.
> Authenticate public API requests with Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY.
> Use product-owned terms: agents, campaigns, projects (GoHighLevel sub-accounts), contacts, calls, outcomes, skills, cadences, phone numbers.
> Scope requests by locationId rather than projectName.
> Read the guide linked from each API reference group before recommending an endpoint.
# AI interactions
> How chatbot billing works and what each AI interaction costs.
Upcoming billing update. This guide previews the AI interaction model being
introduced. Your current billing remains unchanged until the update is enabled
for your account.
We bill chatbot usage in units called **AI interactions**. These cover the
work your chatbot does to help a lead, whether it sends a reply or handles
something behind the scenes.
## What is an AI interaction?
**Think of an AI interaction as a moment when your chatbot uses its brain
to process information.**
* **One answer, two message bubbles:** splitting the answer does not add
interactions. You pay for the AI's work, not each bubble.
* **“Call me right now”:** arranging an AI callback can count even without a
text reply. The resulting call uses voice minutes.
A request can need several interactions. They are not counted per message
bubble or individual action.
## What does an interaction cost?
Each AI interaction costs **75% less than one minute with your voice agent**.
It comes from the same wallet as your calls, using **15 seconds of balance per interaction**.
For example, if your rate is **\$0.41 per minute**, each AI interaction costs
**about \$0.10** (rounded). Four interactions cost the same as one minute of voice usage.
AI interaction pricing applies to work started outside a voice conversation,
such as handling a message or a request you give the chatbot. Work started by
a voice call, including its follow-up processing, is covered by voice usage.
## Voice call vs. chatbot: compare the cost
Imagine a lead books an appointment through either a voice call or an SMS
conversation. At a **\$0.41 per-minute rate**, here is what each example costs:
| How the lead books | Usage | Total cost |
| - | - | - |
| Voice agent | A 2-minute call | **\$0.82** |
| SMS chatbot | 4 AI interactions | **\$0.41** |
**The chatbot costs 50% less in this example.** Four interactions together
use one minute of wallet balance. The total is calculated before rounding,
so four interactions cost \$0.41, not four times the rounded \$0.10 estimate.
Illustrative example only. Actual costs and results may vary with your rate, call length and the number of AI interactions needed. No booking or savings are guaranteed. SMS delivery charges are separate.
## Do I pay for AI interactions on top of voice minutes?
**No. If you only use a voice agent, there are no AI interaction charges.**
The AI work needed for your calls, including sending a text requested during
a call and handling follow-up processing, is covered by your voice usage.
AI interactions apply when you also use a **chatbot** to handle messages or
requests separately from calls. Your chatbot can help a lead even when there
is no phone call, such as answering a text, updating their details, or
arranging a callback. That chatbot work uses AI interactions.
## Keeping your AI costs down
You shouldn't pay for AI work that isn't needed. Our system can automatically
recognize straightforward messages such as “STOP” or “Not interested” and
handle them without full chatbot processing.
**These message checks are on us.** When a request is handled this way, there
is no paid AI interaction. Messages that need your chatbot to understand,
respond or take action use AI interactions as usual.
This helps keep routine messages from adding unnecessary costs, so your
budget goes toward the chatbot work your leads need.
## A few useful details
* **An interaction does not guarantee a delivered reply.** It pays for the AI
processing, so it can still count if no reply is needed or delivery fails.
* **Earlier charges stay as they were.** Introducing this billing unit does
not recalculate past usage.
For the rest of your wallet and billing information, see
[Balances, spend and sub-account wallets](/billing/overview). To read your
spend from the API, see [Get billing usage](/api-reference/billing/get-billing-usage).
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