AI intent detection

AI intent detection is a trigger filter that starts an Inrō automation when a DM, comment or story reply means what you describe, not when it contains a keyword. You describe the intent in plain words, such as "asks about the price". The AI decides whether each message matches, and only a match starts the flow.

How is an intent trigger different from a keyword trigger?

A keyword trigger needs the word in the message. If your keyword is "price", the DM "how much does this cost?" never starts the flow. An intent trigger reads the meaning, so the same DM can match the intent "asks about pricing".

On the Scenarios page, open a trigger such as Someone sends you a DM, choose AI-detected intent as the filter, and describe the intent. A comment-to-DM automation takes the same filter, and so does the Inrō API for building automations.

Which messages does the intent check look at?

• A comment or a story reply is judged on its own text.
• A DM is checked once the burst ends. Inrō bundles DMs once the contact has been quiet for 5 seconds (Inrō, September 2026), as the entry on message grouping explains.

When does an intent trigger misfire?

The app warns that "AI-detected intents may not always be accurate." Watch for these cases:

• The intent is vague. "Asks a question" catches messages you never meant to answer. Describe one need, such as "asks about the cancellation policy".
• The burst ends on something else. If the last message is unrelated, such as a thank-you, the intent can be missed. Test with the phrasings your contacts really use.
• No AI credits are left. On plans that meter AI credits, the check stops running once the allowance is used. A check that finds no match costs no credit.
• No intent is written. The trigger never fires, and Inrō flags it with "No intent described."

How do you test an intent before it goes live?

On the Someone sends you a DM trigger, type a real phrasing into Test intent detection. You get "Intent detected" or "Intent not detected". The test checks one message on its own.

The AI agent for Instagram DMs has its own Specific intents only mode, and a multiple choice question in DMs can use AI detection for free-text answers. See also comment to DM and the Inrō automation glossary.