Introduction
Tolstoy AI Bots help with ecommerce tasks such as reviewing images, preparing ads, improving video widgets, and translating product information.
You can start with a template that gives the bot a specific task. The bot can then use accessible data and connected apps to investigate, prepare drafts, and recommend next steps. What it can complete depends on the information, connections, and tools available in your workspace.
How to Set Up
Connect apps for your primary bot
During primary bot setup, you may see Make your primary bot more helpful.
This screen shows supported apps, such as Meta Ads, Google Analytics, Gmail, and Slack. An existing Shopify connection may also appear as Connected.
Select an app and click Connect [app name], then follow the connection steps. You can also select Start without connecting more apps to continue with your existing connections.
Start with a bot template
Open Bot Templates in Tolstoy.
Choose a template and click View bot.
Review its details:
First result: The initial result the bot is instructed to work toward.
Approval: The review and approval instructions for that task.
Data and assets needed: The information needed to do the work.
First task: The starting instructions sent to the bot.
Click Start with this bot to open a conversation.
Answer any questions about your goal, store, products, or references.
Review the bot’s findings and drafts, and request changes as needed.
Starting a template does not automatically connect missing sources, create a recurring routine, or publish changes.
Available AI Bots
Creative Director QA Reviewer
Best for: Reviewing images against your creative standards, product references, and brand guidelines.
The bot works toward a review checklist and a Ship, Fix, or Reject recommendation, with the most important issues first.
Provide the images, brief, and relevant references. You can also ask it to learn from accessible previous feedback. Before reviewing that history, agree which chats and time period it should use.
The template instructs the bot to review and suggest fixes. Ask explicitly if you also want it to edit or regenerate an image.
Example: “Review these images against my product references and brand guidelines. Flag product errors and suggest specific fixes.”
Ads Manager
Best for: Choosing products to advertise and preparing ad concepts and creative drafts.
The bot uses accessible catalog, stock, sales, ad-performance, and brand information to prepare a ranked product shortlist with supporting evidence.
The template asks for product approval before creating ads. Creative assets and advertising spend also need the appropriate owner’s approval.
Example: “Recommend five products worth advertising in our UK store, using the stock, sales, and ad data you can access.”
Ecom Manager
Best for: Finding opportunities to improve homepage engagement and product-page conversion.
The bot works toward one clear opportunity, a proposed content change or test, and a success metric.
Provide the store, reporting period, current content, catalog, and relevant analytics. Measuring homepage clicks or product-page conversion requires data that supports those specific metrics.
The template requires approval before changing storefront content or starting an experiment.
Example: “Review our homepage placement data and recommend one content test, including how we should measure it.”
Onsite Widget Manager
Best for: Reviewing widget placements, video relevance, product coverage, and performance.
The bot uses accessible widgets, analytics, catalog information, stock, media, and business goals to identify improvements.
Its intended first result is a visual baseline report with prioritized opportunities and useful unpublished drafts where supported. If information is missing, it should explain the gaps and suggest next steps.
The template asks for separate approval for live changes, experiments, paid media work, and recurring reports.
Example: “Review our widget coverage and recommend relevant videos from our library for products that need them.”
On-Model Imagery
Best for: Finding products without model photos and preparing on-model image drafts.
Provide approved product photos, exact product and variant details, required views, and model or brand guidelines.
The bot works toward a product-by-product gap list and a small batch of drafts linked to their source products. Review each image for product accuracy before approving it for use.
Example: “Find a small batch of products without model photos and prepare drafts using these approved references.”
Product Translator
Best for: Translating product titles, descriptions, and relevant attributes for a specific language and market.
Provide the products, source text, target language and market, brand voice, and any approved terminology.
The bot presents the original and translated text side by side and flags wording that needs review. A local-market editor should approve the exact text before an import-ready table is prepared or translations are published.
Example: “Translate these product descriptions into Spanish for Spain, using our glossary and brand voice.”
How to Review Results and Make Live Changes
Review the bot’s recommendations, images, content, or drafts.
Check product details, brand requirements, and any uncertainties it has flagged.
Ask for revisions where needed.
For a live change, specify the exact approved content and the action you want, such as publishing it or updating a particular product.
Check the result to confirm the action completed successfully.
Approval settings: Tolstoy offers Ask for approval and Full access. Ask for approval pauses actions that require confirmation. Full access can automatically approve tool actions, so you may not receive a separate confirmation prompt.
Review your permission settings and give clear instructions about which actions the bot may take.
Best Practices
Be specific. Include your goal, store, products, market, and reporting period where relevant.
Provide reliable references. Share approved images, product details, terminology, and brand guidelines.
Start small. Review a few products or images before requesting a larger batch.
Check the evidence. Ask the bot to identify missing information and explain what supports its recommendations.
Give clear feedback. State what needs to change and which details must stay the same.
Define recurring work separately. Agree what a routine should do and when it should run.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Which bot should I use?
Choose the template closest to your goal. Use Onsite Widget Manager for widgets, Ads Manager for advertising work, or Creative Director QA Reviewer for image reviews.
Why is the bot asking for more information?
The bot may need details or access that your current connections do not provide. Supply the missing information or clarify the task so it can continue accurately.
Does connecting an app give the bot everything it needs?
The bot can use only the information available through that connection and its permissions. Some tasks may still need additional files, references, or data.
Can bots make changes automatically?
Some tool actions can run automatically with Full access. The templates include instructions to obtain approval for specified live actions. Give clear instructions and review your approval settings before requesting changes.
Can I request changes to a result?
Yes. Explain what you want adjusted and provide a reference or example where helpful.
Will the bot remember my preferences?
The bot can use context available in its conversation and accessible reference material. For Creative Director QA Reviewer, you can agree which previous chats it should review. Do not assume every bot has read all previous conversations.
Can I use more than one bot?
Yes. You can start different bots for different tasks. Provide each bot with the instructions and references it needs.
Can a bot repeat a task?
You can ask a bot to set up a routine for a schedule or a supported event. Agree the task and timing, then check that the routine was created. Choosing a template alone does not schedule recurring work.