Telnyx AI Assistants - JavaScript

Installation

npm install telnyx

Setup

import Telnyx from 'telnyx';

const client = new Telnyx({
  apiKey: process.env['TELNYX_API_KEY'], // This is the default and can be omitted
});

All examples below assume client is already initialized as shown above.

Error Handling

All API calls can fail with network errors, rate limits (429), validation errors (422), or authentication errors (401). Always handle errors in production code:

try {
  const assistant = await client.ai.assistants.create({
    instructions: 'You are a helpful assistant.',
    model: 'meta-llama/Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct',
    name: 'my-resource',
  });
} catch (err) {
  if (err instanceof Telnyx.APIConnectionError) {
    console.error('Network error — check connectivity and retry');
  } else if (err instanceof Telnyx.RateLimitError) {
    const retryAfter = err.headers?.['retry-after'] || 1;
    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, retryAfter * 1000));
  } else if (err instanceof Telnyx.APIError) {
    console.error(`API error ${err.status}: ${err.message}`);
    if (err.status === 422) {
      console.error('Validation error — check required fields and formats');
    }
  }
}

Common error codes: 401 invalid API key, 403 insufficient permissions, 404 resource not found, 422 validation error (check field formats), 429 rate limited (retry with exponential backoff).

Important Notes

• Phone numbers must be in E.164 format (e.g., +13125550001). Include the + prefix and country code. No spaces, dashes, or parentheses.
• Pagination: List methods return an auto-paginating iterator. Use for await (const item of result) { ... } to iterate through all pages automatically.

Reference Use Rules

Do not invent Telnyx parameters, enums, response fields, or webhook fields.

• If the parameter, enum, or response field you need is not shown inline in this skill, read references/api-details.md before writing code.
• Before using any operation in ## Additional Operations, read the optional-parameters section and the response-schemas section.

Core Tasks

Create an assistant

Assistant creation is the entrypoint for any AI assistant integration. Agents need the exact creation method and the top-level fields returned by the SDK.

client.ai.assistants.create() — POST /ai/assistants

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
name	string	Yes
model	string	Yes	ID of the model to use.
instructions	string	Yes	System instructions for the assistant.
tools	array[object]	No	The tools that the assistant can use.
description	string	No
greeting	string	No	Text that the assistant will use to start the conversation.
...			+11 optional params in references/api-details.md

const assistant = await client.ai.assistants.create({
  instructions: 'You are a helpful assistant.',
  model: 'meta-llama/Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct',
  name: 'my-resource',
});

console.log(assistant.id);

Primary response fields:

• assistant.id
• assistant.name
• assistant.model
• assistant.instructions
• assistant.createdAt
• assistant.description

Chat with an assistant

Chat is the primary runtime path. Agents need the exact assistant method and the response content field.

client.ai.assistants.chat() — POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/chat

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
content	string	Yes	The message content sent by the client to the assistant
conversationId	string (UUID)	Yes	A unique identifier for the conversation thread, used to mai...
assistantId	string (UUID)	Yes
name	string	No	The optional display name of the user sending the message

const response = await client.ai.assistants.chat('assistant_id', {
  content: 'Tell me a joke about cats',
  conversation_id: '42b20469-1215-4a9a-8964-c36f66b406f4',
});

console.log(response.content);

Primary response fields:

• response.content

Create an assistant test

Test creation is the main validation path for production assistant behavior before deployment.

client.ai.assistants.tests.create() — POST /ai/assistants/tests

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
name	string	Yes	A descriptive name for the assistant test.
destination	string	Yes	The target destination for the test conversation.
instructions	string	Yes	Detailed instructions that define the test scenario and what...
rubric	array[object]	Yes	Evaluation criteria used to assess the assistant's performan...
description	string	No	Optional detailed description of what this test evaluates an...
telnyxConversationChannel	object	No	The communication channel through which the test will be con...
maxDurationSeconds	integer	No	Maximum duration in seconds that the test conversation shoul...
...			+1 optional params in references/api-details.md

const assistantTest = await client.ai.assistants.tests.create({
  destination: '+15551234567',
  instructions:
    'Act as a frustrated customer who received a damaged product. Ask for a refund and escalate if not satisfied with the initial response.',
  name: 'Customer Support Bot Test',
  rubric: [
    { criteria: 'Assistant responds within 30 seconds', name: 'Response Time' },
    { criteria: 'Provides correct product information', name: 'Accuracy' },
  ],
});

console.log(assistantTest.test_id);

Primary response fields:

• assistantTest.testId
• assistantTest.name
• assistantTest.destination
• assistantTest.createdAt
• assistantTest.instructions
• assistantTest.description

---

Important Supporting Operations

Use these when the core tasks above are close to your flow, but you need a common variation or follow-up step.

Get an assistant

Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.

client.ai.assistants.retrieve() — GET /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
assistantId	string (UUID)	Yes
callControlId	string (UUID)	No
fetchDynamicVariablesFromWebhook	boolean	No
from	string (E.164)	No
...			+1 optional params in references/api-details.md

const assistant = await client.ai.assistants.retrieve('550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000');

console.log(assistant.id);

Primary response fields:

• assistant.id
• assistant.name
• assistant.createdAt
• assistant.description
• assistant.dynamicVariables
• assistant.dynamicVariablesWebhookUrl

Update an assistant

Create or provision an additional resource when the core tasks do not cover this flow.

client.ai.assistants.update() — POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
assistantId	string (UUID)	Yes
name	string	No
model	string	No	ID of the model to use.
instructions	string	No	System instructions for the assistant.
...			+15 optional params in references/api-details.md

const assistant = await client.ai.assistants.update('550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000');

console.log(assistant.id);

Primary response fields:

• assistant.id
• assistant.name
• assistant.createdAt
• assistant.description
• assistant.dynamicVariables
• assistant.dynamicVariablesWebhookUrl

List assistants

Inspect available resources or choose an existing resource before mutating it.

client.ai.assistants.list() — GET /ai/assistants

const assistantsList = await client.ai.assistants.list();

console.log(assistantsList.data);

Response wrapper:

• items: assistantsList.data

Primary item fields:

• id
• name
• createdAt
• description
• dynamicVariables
• dynamicVariablesWebhookUrl

Import assistants from external provider

Import existing assistants from an external provider instead of creating from scratch.

client.ai.assistants.imports() — POST /ai/assistants/import

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
provider	enum (elevenlabs, vapi, retell)	Yes	The external provider to import assistants from.
apiKeyRef	string	Yes	Integration secret pointer that refers to the API key for th...
importIds	array[string]	No	Optional list of assistant IDs to import from the external p...

const assistantsList = await client.ai.assistants.imports({
  api_key_ref: 'api_key_ref',
  provider: 'elevenlabs',
});

console.log(assistantsList.data);

Response wrapper:

• items: assistantsList.data

Primary item fields:

• id
• name
• createdAt
• description
• dynamicVariables
• dynamicVariablesWebhookUrl

Get All Tags

Inspect available resources or choose an existing resource before mutating it.

client.ai.assistants.tags.list() — GET /ai/assistants/tags

const tags = await client.ai.assistants.tags.list();

console.log(tags.tags);

Primary response fields:

• tags.tags

List assistant tests with pagination

Inspect available resources or choose an existing resource before mutating it.

client.ai.assistants.tests.list() — GET /ai/assistants/tests

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
testSuite	string	No	Filter tests by test suite name
telnyxConversationChannel	string	No	Filter tests by communication channel (e.g., 'web_chat', 'sm...
destination	string	No	Filter tests by destination (phone number, webhook URL, etc....
...			+1 optional params in references/api-details.md

// Automatically fetches more pages as needed.
for await (const assistantTest of client.ai.assistants.tests.list()) {
  console.log(assistantTest.test_id);
}

Response wrapper:

• items: assistantTest.data
• pagination: assistantTest.meta

Primary item fields:

• name
• createdAt
• description
• destination
• instructions
• maxDurationSeconds

Get all test suite names

Inspect available resources or choose an existing resource before mutating it.

client.ai.assistants.tests.testSuites.list() — GET /ai/assistants/tests/test-suites

const testSuites = await client.ai.assistants.tests.testSuites.list();

console.log(testSuites.data);

Response wrapper:

• items: testSuites.data

Primary item fields:

• data

Get test suite run history

Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.

client.ai.assistants.tests.testSuites.runs.list() — GET /ai/assistants/tests/test-suites/{suite_name}/runs

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
suiteName	string	Yes
testSuiteRunId	string (UUID)	No	Filter runs by specific suite execution batch ID
status	string	No	Filter runs by execution status (pending, running, completed...
page	object	No	Consolidated page parameter (deepObject style).

// Automatically fetches more pages as needed.
for await (const testRunResponse of client.ai.assistants.tests.testSuites.runs.list('suite_name')) {
  console.log(testRunResponse.run_id);
}

Response wrapper:

• items: testRunResponse.data
• pagination: testRunResponse.meta

Primary item fields:

• status
• createdAt
• updatedAt
• completedAt
• conversationId
• conversationInsightsId

---

Additional Operations

Use the core tasks above first. The operations below are indexed here with exact SDK methods and required params; use references/api-details.md for full optional params, response schemas, and lower-frequency webhook payloads. Before using any operation below, read the optional-parameters section and the response-schemas section so you do not guess missing fields.

Operation	SDK method	Endpoint	Use when	Required params
Trigger test suite execution	client.ai.assistants.tests.testSuites.runs.trigger()	POST /ai/assistants/tests/test-suites/{suite_name}/runs	Trigger a follow-up action in an existing workflow rather than creating a new top-level resource.	suiteName
Get assistant test by ID	client.ai.assistants.tests.retrieve()	GET /ai/assistants/tests/{test_id}	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	testId
Update an assistant test	client.ai.assistants.tests.update()	PUT /ai/assistants/tests/{test_id}	Modify an existing resource without recreating it.	testId
Delete an assistant test	client.ai.assistants.tests.delete()	DELETE /ai/assistants/tests/{test_id}	Remove, detach, or clean up an existing resource.	testId
Get test run history for a specific test	client.ai.assistants.tests.runs.list()	GET /ai/assistants/tests/{test_id}/runs	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	testId
Trigger a manual test run	client.ai.assistants.tests.runs.trigger()	POST /ai/assistants/tests/{test_id}/runs	Trigger a follow-up action in an existing workflow rather than creating a new top-level resource.	testId
Get specific test run details	client.ai.assistants.tests.runs.retrieve()	GET /ai/assistants/tests/{test_id}/runs/{run_id}	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	testId, runId
Delete an assistant	client.ai.assistants.delete()	DELETE /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}	Remove, detach, or clean up an existing resource.	assistantId
Get Canary Deploy	client.ai.assistants.canaryDeploys.retrieve()	GET /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/canary-deploys	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	assistantId
Create Canary Deploy	client.ai.assistants.canaryDeploys.create()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/canary-deploys	Create or provision an additional resource when the core tasks do not cover this flow.	versions, assistantId
Update Canary Deploy	client.ai.assistants.canaryDeploys.update()	PUT /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/canary-deploys	Modify an existing resource without recreating it.	versions, assistantId
Delete Canary Deploy	client.ai.assistants.canaryDeploys.delete()	DELETE /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/canary-deploys	Remove, detach, or clean up an existing resource.	assistantId
Assistant Sms Chat	client.ai.assistants.sendSMS()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/chat/sms	Run assistant chat over SMS instead of direct API chat.	from, to, assistantId
Clone Assistant	client.ai.assistants.clone()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/clone	Trigger a follow-up action in an existing workflow rather than creating a new top-level resource.	assistantId
List scheduled events	client.ai.assistants.scheduledEvents.list()	GET /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/scheduled_events	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	assistantId
Create a scheduled event	client.ai.assistants.scheduledEvents.create()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/scheduled_events	Create or provision an additional resource when the core tasks do not cover this flow.	telnyxConversationChannel, telnyxEndUserTarget, telnyxAgentTarget, scheduledAtFixedDatetime, +1 more
Get a scheduled event	client.ai.assistants.scheduledEvents.retrieve()	GET /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/scheduled_events/{event_id}	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	assistantId, eventId
Delete a scheduled event	client.ai.assistants.scheduledEvents.delete()	DELETE /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/scheduled_events/{event_id}	Remove, detach, or clean up an existing resource.	assistantId, eventId
Add Assistant Tag	client.ai.assistants.tags.add()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/tags	Create or provision an additional resource when the core tasks do not cover this flow.	tag, assistantId
Remove Assistant Tag	client.ai.assistants.tags.remove()	DELETE /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/tags/{tag}	Remove, detach, or clean up an existing resource.	assistantId, tag
Get assistant texml	client.ai.assistants.getTexml()	GET /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/texml	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	assistantId
Test Assistant Tool	client.ai.assistants.tools.test()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/tools/{tool_id}/test	Trigger a follow-up action in an existing workflow rather than creating a new top-level resource.	assistantId, toolId
Get all versions of an assistant	client.ai.assistants.versions.list()	GET /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/versions	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	assistantId
Get a specific assistant version	client.ai.assistants.versions.retrieve()	GET /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/versions/{version_id}	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	assistantId, versionId
Update a specific assistant version	client.ai.assistants.versions.update()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/versions/{version_id}	Create or provision an additional resource when the core tasks do not cover this flow.	assistantId, versionId
Delete a specific assistant version	client.ai.assistants.versions.delete()	DELETE /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/versions/{version_id}	Remove, detach, or clean up an existing resource.	assistantId, versionId
Promote an assistant version to main	client.ai.assistants.versions.promote()	POST /ai/assistants/{assistant_id}/versions/{version_id}/promote	Trigger a follow-up action in an existing workflow rather than creating a new top-level resource.	assistantId, versionId
List MCP Servers	client.ai.mcpServers.list()	GET /ai/mcp_servers	Inspect available resources or choose an existing resource before mutating it.	None
Create MCP Server	client.ai.mcpServers.create()	POST /ai/mcp_servers	Create or provision an additional resource when the core tasks do not cover this flow.	name, type, url
Get MCP Server	client.ai.mcpServers.retrieve()	GET /ai/mcp_servers/{mcp_server_id}	Fetch the current state before updating, deleting, or making control-flow decisions.	mcpServerId
Update MCP Server	client.ai.mcpServers.update()	PUT /ai/mcp_servers/{mcp_server_id}	Modify an existing resource without recreating it.	mcpServerId
Delete MCP Server	client.ai.mcpServers.delete()	DELETE /ai/mcp_servers/{mcp_server_id}	Remove, detach, or clean up an existing resource.	mcpServerId

---

For exhaustive optional parameters, full response schemas, and complete webhook payloads, see references/api-details.md.