How AI variables write each message in Vetta agents and sequences: the AI Message Settings page, the prompt, the channel, the Input sources including custom CRM columns, and skill files.
Updated October 14, 2026 · 5 min read
An AI variable is a piece of a message that the AI writes for each lead: a whole email body, a subject line, an opening sentence, a short phrase like the lead's target market. You insert it in a step like any other variable, as {{aiMessage.first_email_body}}, and every lead gets their own version.
Everything about AI variables lives in AI Message Settings, and it works the same in agents and in standalone sequences.
In an agent: open the agent's Settings tab and pick AI Message Settings.
In a sequence: open the sequence's settings (the gear in the sequence toolbar) and pick AI Message Settings.
From a step: in any email, LinkedIn or WhatsApp step, the Manage AI message button in the editor's toolbar (shown as AI message on when the step already uses AI) opens the same page.
Agents · AI Message Settings
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CFO Scout: Fintech EMEAScout · ActiveSequence · Active
Finds CFOs and finance leaders at fintech companies in EMEA who show buying intent on LinkedIn ...
Deactivate
Finding new leads and reaching out to them automatically.
Sets up one AI variable for every step in this sequence, a subject and a body for each email step, a message for each LinkedIn or WhatsApp step and inserts them into the empty steps.
AI variablesNew AI variable
Each variable is written per lead from its prompt, inputs and skill files, and can be inserted anywhere in this sequence.
first_email_body{{aiMessage.first_email_body}}
Write the first outreach email body for this person in our voice, following the attached First touch skill: open on the signal that surfaced them, one line on what we do for finance teams like theirs, one proof point, and a soft ask for 20 minutes. 80 words at most, no subject line and no sign-off.
5 input sources · 1 skill file
Configure variable
target_market{{aiMessage.target_market}}
Name, in 3 to 6 words, the buyer group this person's company sells to, as a plain lowercase noun phrase with no company name and no trailing punctuation (e.g. "mid-market retailers in Europe"). Derive it from the company record and the attached notes.
1 input source · No skill files
Configure variable
signal_hook{{aiMessage.signal_hook}}
One sentence that references the post or comment that surfaced this lead, in their own words where possible, without quoting more than eight words.
3 input sources · No skill files
Configure variable
DiscardSave Changes
1Settings > AI Message Settings
2Configure variable
3Name, channel and prompt
The page has two parts:
Generate AI message for this sequence: Generate sets up one AI variable for every step in this sequence (a subject and a body for each email step, a message for each LinkedIn or WhatsApp step) and inserts them into the empty steps. It is the fastest way to start.
AI variables: every variable in the sequence, with its name, its prompt and how many input sources and skill files it uses. New AI variable adds one; Configure variable opens one.
Variable name: letters, numbers and underscores, starting with a letter. The {{aiMessage...}} tag under it is what you insert in a step.
Written for: the channel (Email, LinkedIn or WhatsApp). For email, tick Also write the subject line to have the variable write a subject too, with an optional Subject prompt.
Prompt: what the AI should write for this message, per lead. Be specific about length, structure and what to leave out. For example: "Write the first outreach email body in our voice: open on the signal that surfaced them, one line on what we do for finance teams like theirs, one proof point, and a soft ask for 20 minutes. 80 words at most, no subject line and no sign-off."
Input: what the AI knows about the lead (below).
Skill files: the business context documents that set the voice and the facts (below).
Click Show more to pick individual fields from the lead's record and everything related to it: Person, Company, Linked Opportunities and the other records related to the lead. Expand a section and switch on the columns you want, including your own custom fields, such as Hiring roles or Tech stack on the company. The person and company essentials are left out here, since Basic details already sends them.
Agents · Configure AI variable
Vetta Sales OS
Notifications4
Duplicates99+
Pulse
Inbox99+
Calendar10
Lead generation
Agents
Leads
CRM entities
People
Companies
Opportunities
Tasks
Support Tickets
Analytics
Automation
Workflows
Sequences
Pipelines
Cold outbound
Resources
Settings
Agents×Search for anything /12,480 creditsTop upAsk Vetta
CFO Scout: Fintech EMEAScout · ActiveSequence · Active
Finds CFOs and finance leaders at fintech companies in EMEA who show buying intent on LinkedIn ...
Deactivate
Finding new leads and reaching out to them automatically.
Sets up one AI variable for every step in this sequence, a subject and a body for each email step, a message for each LinkedIn or WhatsApp step and inserts them into the empty steps.
AI variablesNew AI variable
Each variable is written per lead from its prompt, inputs and skill files, and can be inserted anywhere in this sequence.
first_email_body{{aiMessage.first_email_body}}
Write the first outreach email body for this person in our voice, following the attached First touch skill: open on the signal that surfaced them, one line on what we do for finance teams like theirs, one proof point, and a soft ask for 20 minutes. 80 words at most, no subject line and no sign-off.
5 input sources · 1 skill file
Configure variable
target_market{{aiMessage.target_market}}
Name, in 3 to 6 words, the buyer group this person's company sells to, as a plain lowercase noun phrase with no company name and no trailing punctuation (e.g. "mid-market retailers in Europe"). Derive it from the company record and the attached notes.
1 input source · No skill files
Configure variable
signal_hook{{aiMessage.signal_hook}}
One sentence that references the post or comment that surfaced this lead, in their own words where possible, without quoting more than eight words.
3 input sources · No skill files
Configure variable
DiscardSave Changes
Configure AI variableWritten per lead when the message is generated, and insertable anywhere in this sequence.
Variable name
first_email_body
{{aiMessage.first_email_body}}
Written for
Which channel this variable is written for.
Email
Also write the subject line
Prompt
What the AI should write for this message, per lead.
Write the first outreach email body for this person in our voice, following the attached First touch skill: open on the signal that surfaced them, one line on what we do for finance teams like theirs, one proof point, and a soft ask for 20 minutes. 80 words at most, no subject line and no sign-off.
Input5 sources on
Skill files1 attached
CancelSave variable
1Open Input
2What the AI always knows
3Show more: CRM columns
4Pass a custom column
This is how you hand the AI data that only your team has, for example a segment, a qualification note or a field filled by a workflow.
Open Skill files to see the documents attached to the variable, then Add business context to pick more in Select business context files: tick the files and Confirm. Skill files are the business context documents of your workspace, so one file (your voice, your proof points, your pricing) can guide many variables. Editing them is covered in Tuning AI messages with skill files.
Agents · Configure AI variable
Vetta Sales OS
Notifications4
Duplicates99+
Pulse
Inbox99+
Calendar10
Lead generation
Agents
Leads
CRM entities
People
Companies
Opportunities
Tasks
Support Tickets
Analytics
Automation
Workflows
Sequences
Pipelines
Cold outbound
Resources
Settings
Agents×Search for anything /12,480 creditsTop upAsk Vetta
CFO Scout: Fintech EMEAScout · ActiveSequence · Active
Finds CFOs and finance leaders at fintech companies in EMEA who show buying intent on LinkedIn ...
Deactivate
Finding new leads and reaching out to them automatically.
Sets up one AI variable for every step in this sequence, a subject and a body for each email step, a message for each LinkedIn or WhatsApp step and inserts them into the empty steps.
AI variablesNew AI variable
Each variable is written per lead from its prompt, inputs and skill files, and can be inserted anywhere in this sequence.
first_email_body{{aiMessage.first_email_body}}
Write the first outreach email body for this person in our voice, following the attached First touch skill: open on the signal that surfaced them, one line on what we do for finance teams like theirs, one proof point, and a soft ask for 20 minutes. 80 words at most, no subject line and no sign-off.
5 input sources · 1 skill file
Configure variable
target_market{{aiMessage.target_market}}
Name, in 3 to 6 words, the buyer group this person's company sells to, as a plain lowercase noun phrase with no company name and no trailing punctuation (e.g. "mid-market retailers in Europe"). Derive it from the company record and the attached notes.
1 input source · No skill files
Configure variable
signal_hook{{aiMessage.signal_hook}}
One sentence that references the post or comment that surfaced this lead, in their own words where possible, without quoting more than eight words.
3 input sources · No skill files
Configure variable
DiscardSave Changes
Configure AI variableWritten per lead when the message is generated, and insertable anywhere in this sequence.
Variable name
first_email_body
{{aiMessage.first_email_body}}
Written for
Which channel this variable is written for.
Email
Also write the subject line
Prompt
What the AI should write for this message, per lead.
Write the first outreach email body for this person in our voice, following the attached First touch skill: open on the signal that surfaced them, one line on what we do for finance teams like theirs, one proof point, and a soft ask for 20 minutes. 80 words at most, no subject line and no sign-off.
One job per variable. A variable for the opener and another for the body are easier to tune than one that does everything.
Put the rules in the prompt, the facts in the skill file. The prompt says what to write; the skill file says how you sound and what is true about your product.
A prompt, the right inputs and a good skill file are what make an AI message read like it was written for one person. Set them up once per variable and every lead the agent or sequence reaches gets a message built from their own data.
Agents · AI Message Settings