Agent skill

create-assistant

Create and configure Vapi voice AI assistants with models, voices, transcribers, tools, hooks, and advanced settings. Use when building voice agents, phone bots, customer support assistants, or any conversational AI that handles phone or web calls.

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Forks 31

Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/other/other/create-assistant

Metadata

Additional technical details for this skill

author
vapi
version
1.0

SKILL.md

Vapi Assistant Creation

Create fully configured voice AI assistants using the Vapi API. Assistants combine a language model, voice, and transcriber to handle real-time phone and web conversations.

Setup: Ensure VAPI_API_KEY is set. See the setup-api-key skill if needed.

Quick Start

cURL

bash
curl -X POST https://api.vapi.ai/assistant \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "Support Assistant",
    "firstMessage": "Hello! How can I help you today?",
    "model": {
      "provider": "openai",
      "model": "gpt-4.1",
      "messages": [
        {
          "role": "system",
          "content": "You are a friendly phone support assistant. Keep responses concise and under 30 words."
        }
      ]
    },
    "voice": {
      "provider": "vapi",
      "voiceId": "Elliot"
    },
    "transcriber": {
      "provider": "deepgram",
      "model": "nova-3",
      "language": "en"
    }
  }'

TypeScript (Server SDK)

typescript
import { VapiClient } from "@vapi-ai/server-sdk";

const vapi = new VapiClient({ token: process.env.VAPI_API_KEY! });

const assistant = await vapi.assistants.create({
  name: "Support Assistant",
  firstMessage: "Hello! How can I help you today?",
  model: {
    provider: "openai",
    model: "gpt-4.1",
    messages: [
      {
        role: "system",
        content: "You are a friendly phone support assistant. Keep responses concise and under 30 words.",
      },
    ],
  },
  voice: {
    provider: "vapi",
    voiceId: "Elliot",
  },
  transcriber: {
    provider: "deepgram",
    model: "nova-3",
    language: "en",
  },
});

console.log("Assistant created:", assistant.id);

Python

python
import requests
import os

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.vapi.ai/assistant",
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['VAPI_API_KEY']}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    json={
        "name": "Support Assistant",
        "firstMessage": "Hello! How can I help you today?",
        "model": {
            "provider": "openai",
            "model": "gpt-4.1",
            "messages": [
                {
                    "role": "system",
                    "content": "You are a friendly phone support assistant. Keep responses concise and under 30 words.",
                }
            ],
        },
        "voice": {"provider": "vapi", "voiceId": "Elliot"},
        "transcriber": {"provider": "deepgram", "model": "nova-3", "language": "en"},
    },
)

assistant = response.json()
print(f"Assistant created: {assistant['id']}")

Core Configuration

Model (required)

The language model powering the assistant's intelligence.

Provider Models Notes
openai gpt-4o, gpt-4o-mini, gpt-4-turbo Most popular, best tool calling
anthropic claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022, claude-3-5-haiku-20241022 Strong reasoning
google gemini-1.5-pro, gemini-1.5-flash Multimodal capable
groq llama-3.1-70b-versatile, llama-3.1-8b-instant Ultra-fast inference
deepinfra meta-llama/Meta-Llama-3.1-70B-Instruct Open-source models
openrouter Various Access 100+ models
perplexity llama-3.1-sonar-large-128k-online Web-connected
together-ai Various open-source Cost-effective
json
{
  "model": {
    "provider": "openai",
    "model": "gpt-4.1",
    "temperature": 0.7,
    "maxTokens": 1000,
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "system",
        "content": "Your system prompt here. Define the assistant's personality, rules, and behavior."
      }
    ]
  }
}

Voice

The text-to-speech voice for the assistant.

Provider Popular Voices Notes
vapi Elliot, Lily, Rohan, Paola, Kian Vapi's optimized voices, lowest latency
11labs Use voice IDs from ElevenLabs High quality, many voices
playht Use voice IDs from PlayHT Expressive voices
cartesia Use voice IDs from Cartesia Fast, high quality
openai alloy, echo, fable, onyx, nova, shimmer OpenAI TTS voices
azure Azure voice names Enterprise-grade
deepgram aura-asteria-en, aura-luna-en Low latency
rime-ai Use voice IDs from Rime Specialized voices
json
{
  "voice": {
    "provider": "vapi",
    "voiceId": "Elliot"
  }
}

Transcriber

The speech-to-text engine for understanding callers.

Provider Models Notes
deepgram nova-3, nova-2 Fastest, most accurate
google latest_long, latest_short Google Cloud STT
gladia fast, accurate European provider
assembly-ai best, nano High accuracy
speechmatics Various Enterprise STT
talkscriber Default Specialized
json
{
  "transcriber": {
    "provider": "deepgram",
    "model": "nova-3",
    "language": "en",
    "keywords": ["Vapi:2", "AI:1"]
  }
}

The keywords field boosts recognition of specific words (word:boost format, boost 1-10).

Behavior Configuration

First Message

json
{
  "firstMessage": "Hello! Thanks for calling Acme Corp. How can I help you today?",
  "firstMessageMode": "assistant-speaks-first"
}

firstMessageMode options:

  • "assistant-speaks-first" — Assistant greets immediately (default)
  • "assistant-waits-for-user" — Assistant waits for caller to speak first
  • "assistant-speaks-first-with-model-generated-message" — LLM generates the greeting

Background Sound

json
{
  "backgroundSound": "office"
}

Options: "off", "office", "static"

Backchanneling

Enable natural conversational acknowledgments ("uh-huh", "I see"):

json
{
  "backgroundDenoisingEnabled": true,
  "backchannelingEnabled": true
}

HIPAA Compliance

json
{
  "hipaaEnabled": true
}

When enabled, Vapi won't store call recordings or transcripts.

Adding Tools

Attach tools so the assistant can take actions during calls.

Using saved tool IDs

json
{
  "model": {
    "provider": "openai",
    "model": "gpt-4.1",
    "toolIds": ["tool-id-1", "tool-id-2"],
    "messages": [{"role": "system", "content": "..."}]
  }
}

Inline tool definition

json
{
  "model": {
    "provider": "openai",
    "model": "gpt-4.1",
    "tools": [
      {
        "type": "function",
        "function": {
          "name": "check_availability",
          "description": "Check appointment availability for a given date",
          "parameters": {
            "type": "object",
            "properties": {
              "date": {
                "type": "string",
                "description": "Date in YYYY-MM-DD format"
              }
            },
            "required": ["date"]
          }
        },
        "server": {
          "url": "https://your-server.com/api/tools"
        }
      }
    ],
    "messages": [{"role": "system", "content": "..."}]
  }
}

Hooks

Automate actions when specific call events occur. See hooks reference for details.

json
{
  "hooks": [
    {
      "on": "customer.speech.timeout",
      "options": {
        "timeoutSeconds": 10,
        "triggerMaxCount": 3
      },
      "do": [
        {
          "type": "say",
          "exact": "Are you still there?"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "on": "call.ending",
      "filters": [
        {
          "type": "oneOf",
          "key": "call.endedReason",
          "oneOf": ["pipeline-error"]
        }
      ],
      "do": [
        {
          "type": "tool",
          "tool": {
            "type": "transferCall",
            "destinations": [
              {
                "type": "number",
                "number": "+1234567890"
              }
            ]
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Managing Assistants

List

bash
curl https://api.vapi.ai/assistant \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY"

Get

bash
curl https://api.vapi.ai/assistant/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY"

Update

bash
curl -X PATCH https://api.vapi.ai/assistant/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "firstMessage": "Updated greeting!"
  }'

Delete

bash
curl -X DELETE https://api.vapi.ai/assistant/{id} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VAPI_API_KEY"

Common Patterns

Customer Support Agent

json
{
  "name": "Customer Support",
  "firstMessage": "Thank you for calling! How can I assist you today?",
  "model": {
    "provider": "openai",
    "model": "gpt-4.1",
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "system",
        "content": "You are a helpful customer support agent for Acme Corp. Be empathetic, concise, and solution-oriented. If you cannot resolve an issue, offer to transfer to a human agent. Keep responses under 30 words."
      }
    ]
  },
  "voice": { "provider": "vapi", "voiceId": "Lily" },
  "transcriber": { "provider": "deepgram", "model": "nova-3", "language": "en" },
  "backchannelingEnabled": true
}

Appointment Scheduler

json
{
  "name": "Appointment Scheduler",
  "firstMessage": "Hi there! I can help you schedule an appointment. What date works best for you?",
  "model": {
    "provider": "openai",
    "model": "gpt-4.1",
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "system",
        "content": "You are an appointment scheduling assistant. Collect the customer's preferred date, time, and service type. Confirm details before booking. Be friendly and efficient."
      }
    ],
    "tools": [
      {
        "type": "function",
        "function": {
          "name": "book_appointment",
          "description": "Book an appointment for the given date, time, and service",
          "parameters": {
            "type": "object",
            "properties": {
              "date": { "type": "string", "description": "YYYY-MM-DD" },
              "time": { "type": "string", "description": "HH:MM in 24h format" },
              "service": { "type": "string", "description": "Type of service" },
              "name": { "type": "string", "description": "Customer name" }
            },
            "required": ["date", "time", "service", "name"]
          }
        },
        "server": { "url": "https://your-server.com/api/book" }
      }
    ]
  },
  "voice": { "provider": "vapi", "voiceId": "Paola" },
  "transcriber": { "provider": "deepgram", "model": "nova-3", "language": "en" }
}

Multilingual Agent

json
{
  "name": "Multilingual Support",
  "firstMessage": "Hello! How can I help you? / Hola! Como puedo ayudarte?",
  "model": {
    "provider": "openai",
    "model": "gpt-4.1",
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "system",
        "content": "You are a multilingual support assistant. Detect the caller's language and respond in the same language. You support English and Spanish."
      }
    ]
  },
  "voice": { "provider": "vapi", "voiceId": "Paola" },
  "transcriber": { "provider": "deepgram", "model": "nova-3", "language": "multi" }
}

References

  • Hooks Configuration — Complete hook events and actions
  • Voice & Model Providers — All supported providers and models
  • Vapi API Docs — Official documentation

Additional Resources

This skills repository includes a Vapi documentation MCP server (vapi-docs) that gives your AI agent access to the full Vapi knowledge base. Use the searchDocs tool to look up anything beyond what this skill covers — advanced configuration, troubleshooting, SDK details, and more.

Auto-configured: If you cloned or installed these skills, the MCP server is already configured via .mcp.json (Claude Code), .cursor/mcp.json (Cursor), or .vscode/mcp.json (VS Code Copilot).

Manual setup: If your agent doesn't auto-detect the config, run:

bash
claude mcp add vapi-docs -- npx -y mcp-remote https://docs.vapi.ai/_mcp/server

See the README for full setup instructions across all supported agents.

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