telnyx-ai-assistants-python

<!-- Auto-generated from Telnyx OpenAPI specs. Do not edit. -->

# Telnyx AI Assistants - Python

## Installation

```bash
pip install telnyx
```

## Setup

```python
import os
from telnyx import Telnyx

client = Telnyx(
    api_key=os.environ.get("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:

```python
import telnyx

try:
    assistant = client.ai.assistants.create(
        instructions="You are a helpful assistant.",
        model="openai/gpt-4o",
        name="my-resource",
    )
except telnyx.APIConnectionError:
    print("Network error — check connectivity and retry")
except telnyx.RateLimitError:
    import time
    time.sleep(1)  # Check Retry-After header for actual delay
except telnyx.APIStatusError as e:
    print(f"API error {e.status_code}: {e.message}")
    if e.status_code == 422:
        print("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 item in page_result:` to iterate through all pages automatically.
- **Model availability** varies by account. If a model returns 422 "not available for inference", use `client.ai.assistants.list()` to discover working models. Commonly available: `openai/gpt-4o`, `Qwen/Qwen3-235B-A22B`.

## 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](references/api-details.md) before writing code.
- Before using any operation in `## Additional Operations`, read [the optional-parameters section](references/api-details.md#optional-parameters) and [the response-schemas section](references/api-details.md#response-schemas).

## 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. |
| `tool_ids` | array[string] | No |  |
| `description` | string | No |  |
| ... | | | +12 optional params in [references/api-details.md](references/api-details.md) |

```python
assistant = client.ai.assistants.create(
    instructions="You are a helpful assistant.",
    model="openai/gpt-4o",
    name="my-resource",
)
print(assistant.id)
```

Primary response fields:
- `assistant.id`
- `assistant.name`
- `assistant.model`
- `assistant.instructions`
- `assistant.created_at`
- `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 |
| `conversation_id` | string (UUID) | Yes | A unique identifier for the conversation thread, used to mai... |
| `assistant_id` | string (UUID) | Yes |  |
| `name` | string | No | The optional display name of the user sending the message |

```python
response = client.ai.assistants.chat(
    assistant_id="550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
    content="Tell me a joke about cats",
    conversation_id="42b20469-1215-4a9a-8964-c36f66b406f4",
)
print(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... |
| `telnyx_conversation_channel` | object | No | The communication channel through which the test will be con... |
| `max_duration_seconds` | integer | No | Maximum duration in seconds that the test conversation shoul... |
| ... | | | +1 optional params in [references/api-details.md](references/api-details.md) |

```python
assistant_test = 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",
    }],
)
print(assistant_test.test_id)
```

Primary response fields:
- `ass