What Is The Best AI Assistant in 2024? (How To Build Your Own in 36mins!)

Introduction

In this article, we will explore how to create an easy, powerful, and beginner-friendly AI automation system using Make.com, a popular automation platform. With the rise of AI tools, integrating them with automation systems has opened up numerous opportunities for digital entrepreneurs, content creators, brands, and businesses to streamline their workflows. One exciting use case we’ll cover involves building your own AI assistant that can summarize content for you, a task that can save time and enhance creativity.

Getting Started with Make.com

To begin, head over to Make.com and create a free account. Once logged in, navigate to the top right corner and click on "Create a New Scenario." You’ll then want to rename your scenario to something memorable, such as "Test AI Webhook Assistant."

In Make.com, the first step is to set up a webhook—a key component of the automation. Webhooks act as messengers between two applications, allowing seamless data transfer without manual checks. To do this, click the purple circle with a plus sign in the center and search for "Webhooks". Choose the "Custom Webhook" module, which triggers whenever a webhook receives data.

Here, you will come up with a descriptive name for your webhook (e.g., "AI Assistant Web") and click save. Don’t forget to copy the unique URL generated for your webhook, as you'll need it later.

Integrating AI with Perplexity

To add AI functionality, we will integrate with Perplexity, an AI model designed for generating chat completions. First, you'll need to obtain an API key from Perplexity by navigating to your account settings and following the instructions. Note that some AI APIs may have associated costs, so keep this in mind as you proceed.

Once you have your API key, add the Perplexity module to your scenario. This will involve selecting the "Create a Chat Completion" action. Input your API key and select the model you intend to use. The functionality here lies in how you structure the prompt for the AI.

Finishing Up with Webhook Responses

After you’ve set up the Perplexity integration, the next step is to add another webhook module to handle responses. Connect this module to your scenario, ensuring that it will return whatever data your AI generates back to your main application.

Your scenario now consists of three primary modules:

A custom webhook for receiving data.
The Perplexity AI module for generating responses based on the provided input.
A webhook response module for outputting data.

With your automation setup, ensure to always save your project in Make.com because crashes can result in lost work.

Custom Chrome Extensions

To enhance usability, consider turning your AI assistant into a Chrome extension. This requires some coding, but AI can help generate the necessary code. With tools like Claude or ChatGPT, prompt the AI to create the structure for your Chrome extension, including essential files: manifest.json, background.js, content.js, and style.css.

Once the files are generated, create a folder on your computer and save all files and icons (in the appropriate dimensions) inside it. Afterward, access the Chrome Developer Dashboard to upload your extension. Make sure to enable developer mode, click on "Load Unpacked," and select the folder containing your extension files. If errors arise, use screenshots of the error messages to prompt AI for troubleshooting assistance.

Testing Your Assistant

With everything set, it's time to test your assistant. Go back to the webhook module in Make.com and run it. Open a news article and use your Chrome assistant to highlight text and send it to the webhook. You should see a message confirming data reception, and the Perplexity module should generate a summary based on the highlighted title and the URL provided.

Once you complete this setup, you can utilize your custom AI assistant directly from your browser, making it a versatile tool for daily tasks.

Conclusion

Creating your AI assistant is now a straightforward process, thanks to the integration of AI and webhooks. With the right setup, you can streamline many aspects of your workflow. This AI automation saves time and can enhance the quality of the content or responses generated. Keep experimenting with different prompts and configurations to tailor your AI assistant to your specific needs.

Keyword

AI Assistant
Make.com
Automation
Webhooks
Perplexity
API Key
Chrome Extension
Digital Entrepreneurs

FAQ

Q1: What is Make.com?
Make.com is an automation platform that allows users to connect various applications and services to automate tasks and workflows.

Q2: How do I get an API key for Perplexity?
To obtain an API key for Perplexity, simply go to your account settings within Perplexity and look for the API tab to generate your key.

Q3: Can I use free APIs for my automation?
Yes, alternative platforms like Hugging Face offer free APIs that can integrate with Make.com, allowing you to experiment without incurring costs.

Q4: What languages do I need to know for building a Chrome extension?
You need a basic understanding of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create a Chrome extension, especially if you want to implement custom functionality.

Q5: What should I do if my Chrome extension doesn't work?
If you encounter errors during the loading of your Chrome extension, taking a screenshot of the error message and querying an AI model for troubleshooting tips can help resolve the issue quickly.