LobsterAI IM Bot Configuration Guide

📖 This guide will show you step-by-step how to configure LobsterAI bots in Telegram and Discord. It’s easy to follow, even for beginners!

Supported Platforms:

  • ✅ Telegram
  • ✅ Discord

Telegram Bot Configuration

Preparation

Before you begin, please ensure you have:

  • ✅ A registered Telegram account
  • ✅ Installed a Telegram client (Desktop or Mobile)

Configuration Steps

Step 1: Search and find @BotFather

Type @BotFather in the Telegram search bar and select the official BotFather (with the blue verification badge):

Search BotFather

  • Official Account: @BotFather
  • Verification Badge: Blue checkmark

⚠️ Note: Please ensure you use the official BotFather and avoid fake accounts!

Step 2: Send the /newbot command to start creating a bot

Start a conversation with BotFather and send the /newbot command. BotFather will guide you through the bot creation process.

Step 3: Set Bot Name and Username

3.1 Set Bot Name

BotFather will first ask you to enter a display name for your bot, e.g., LobsterAI

3.2 Set Bot Username

Next, you need to set a username for the bot. It must end in bot, e.g., LobsterAI_bot

Bot Creation Process

Tips:

  • The Bot Name can be any text and supports multiple languages.
  • The Username must consist of English letters, numbers, and underscores, and must end with bot.
  • The Username must be unique; if prompted that it is already taken, you will need to choose another.

3.3 Obtain Bot Token

Once created successfully, BotFather will return a message containing the Token:

Bot Token

⚠️ Copy and save this Token! This is the identity credential for your bot, formatted like: 1234567890:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz1234567890

⚠️ Security Tip: The Token acts as the bot’s password. Do not share it with others! If it is accidentally leaked, you can generate a new one via the /revoke command.

Step 4: Enter the Token into the LobsterAI Client

Open the IM configuration interface in your LobsterAI client:

LobsterAI Configuration Interface

In the Telegram configuration section:

  1. Paste the Token you copied above into the Bot Token input field.
  2. Toggle the switch ON and confirm it shows a “Connected” status.

Step 5: Search for your bot in Telegram

Enter the bot username you just created (e.g., @LobsterAI_bot) in the Telegram search bar:

Search and Open Bot

Click on the bot to enter the chat window.

Step 6: Send the /start command to begin the conversation

Send the /start command in the chat window to activate the bot. You can then begin chatting with the bot normally!

Step 7: (Optional) Customize Bot Appearance

You can further customize your bot via BotFather:

Set Bot Profile Picture:

  • Send /setuserpic to BotFather
  • Select your bot
  • Upload an image

Customize Bot Appearance

Set Bot Description:

  • Send /setdescription to BotFather
  • Select your bot
  • Enter the description text

Set Bot About Text:

  • Send /setabouttext to BotFather
  • Select your bot
  • Enter the introductory text

⚠️ Important Notes

  • Token Security: Keep it safe. If leaked, regenerate it via /revoke.
  • Username Rules: Must end with bot and only supports English letters, numbers, and underscores.
  • First Use: You must send /start to activate the chat.

Discord Bot Configuration

Preparation

Before you begin, please ensure you have:

  • ✅ A registered Discord account
  • ✅ Created or managed at least one Discord Server

Configuration Steps

Step 1: Create a Bot Application

Visit the Discord Developer Portal: https://discord.com/developers/applications and log in with your Discord account.

Click the New Application button in the top right corner. In the pop-up dialog, enter your application name:

Create Application

  • Application Name: e.g., LobsterAI
  • Check the box to agree to the terms of service.
  • Click Create.

Step 2: Configure Bot Information

Once created, you will enter the application management page. Click the Bot option in the left menu. If a Bot hasn’t been created yet, click the Add Bot button and confirm.

Configure Bot

After creation, you will see the bot configuration page where you can:

  • Set the bot profile picture
  • Set the bot username
  • View and reset the Token

Step 3: Obtain Bot Token

At the top of the Bot configuration page, find the TOKEN section. Click the Reset Token button (for first-time creation) or the Copy button.

View Token

After confirming, the system will display the Token.

⚠️ Copy and save this Token! This is the identity credential for your bot, acting as the bot’s “password.”

⚠️ Security Tip:

  • The Token is only displayed once; please copy and save it immediately!
  • If lost, you can only generate a new Token.
  • Never share the Token with others, or they could control your bot.
  • If accidentally leaked, please regenerate a new Token immediately.

Step 4: Enter the Token into the LobsterAI Client

Open the IM configuration interface in your LobsterAI client. In the Discord configuration section, paste the Token you copied above into the Bot Token field:

Enter Token

  1. Paste the Token into the Bot Token input field.
  2. Toggle the switch ON.

Step 5: Configure Bot Permissions

Scroll down on the Bot configuration page to find the Privileged Gateway Intents section.

Configure Permissions

You MUST enable the following intents:

  • ✅ PRESENCE INTENT - To get member online status
  • ✅ SERVER MEMBERS INTENT - To get server member information
  • ✅ MESSAGE CONTENT INTENT - To read message content

⚠️ Important: If you do not enable MESSAGE CONTENT INTENT, the bot will be unable to read the content of messages sent by users!

Remember to click Save Changes after enabling them.

Click the OAuth2 option in the left menu:

OAuth2 Menu

Then click URL Generator. In the Scopes section, check the following two options:

URL Generator Configuration

  • ✅ bot - Basic bot permission, allowing the bot to join the server as a regular user.
  • ✅ applications.commands - Slash command permission, allowing the bot to use Discord’s slash command features (e.g., /help).

In the Bot Permissions section, check the following permissions:

Bot Permissions Configuration

Why these permissions are needed:

  • Send Messages: Basic ability for the bot to reply to users.
  • Send Messages in Threads: Supports conversations within Discord threads.
  • Embed Links: Displays rich text link previews.
  • Attach Files: Sends images, documents, and other files.
  • Read Message History: Allows the bot to view channel history to understand conversation context.
  • Add Reactions: Uses emojis to react to user messages.
  • View Channels: Allows the bot to see the list of channels in the server.

💡 Tip: These are the minimum permissions required for the LobsterAI bot to function normally. You can adjust permissions based on your specific needs.

Copy the invitation link automatically generated at the bottom of the page, paste it into your browser’s address bar, and select the server you want to add the bot to:

Invite Bot

  • Select the server you manage from the dropdown menu.
  • Click Continue.
  • Confirm the permissions and click Authorize.

⚠️ Note: You must have Administrator permissions on the server to add a bot.

Once authorized, the bot will appear in the server’s member list.

Step 7: Test the Bot

In any text channel of your Discord server, @mention your bot and send a message. The bot should reply to you.

Test Bot

Tip: In Discord, the bot will only respond to messages that @mention it, unless other triggers are configured in the code.

⚠️ Important Notes

  • MESSAGE CONTENT INTENT: This must be enabled to read messages.
  • Basic Permissions: Ensure the bot has permissions to View Channels, Send Messages, and Read Message History.
  • Trigger Method: By default, an @mention is required for the bot to respond.

FAQ

Telegram

Q: “Connection Failed” error after entering the Token?

  • Check if the Token was copied completely.
  • Confirm whether your network can access the Telegram API.
  • Try regenerating the Token via /revoke.

Q: Bot is not receiving messages?

  • Confirm the user has sent /start to activate the bot.
  • Check if the client shows a “Connected” status.

Discord

Q: Bot is not receiving user messages?

  1. Check if the MESSAGE CONTENT INTENT is enabled (Bot Settings → Privileged Gateway Intents).
  2. Check channel permissions: View Channel, Send Messages, Read Message History.

Q: Bot appears offline?

  • Check if the Token was entered correctly.
  • Confirm the client shows a “Connected” status.
  • Restart the LobsterAI client.