AI SDR · FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS · INBOX REPLIES
How do I manually reply in the AI SDR inbox?
Steps to manually reply in the AI SDR inbox.
Manual reply from the AI SDR inbox works like any email client — open the thread, click Reply, write, send. What's unusual is what happens to the AI's role on that thread afterward: your reply counts as a takeover, so the AI goes quiet on that specific conversation.
How to reply manually
- Open AI SDR Inbox.
- Click the thread you want to reply to.
- Read the full history — the AI's past replies are visible so you know what's been said.
- Click Reply at the bottom of the thread view.
- Type your message. Keep formatting simple — complex HTML may not render the same for the recipient.
- Click Send.
What happens after you send
- The thread moves out of the AI's active reply queue.
- The Escalated / Needs Attention tag may stay if it was set. Use the X on the Escalated for Review banner to dismiss the escalation, and update the lifecycle status if the conversation is done.
- The AI won't send follow-ups to this thread unless you explicitly re-enable it. See How do I re-enable the AI SDR after a human takeover?.
When to reply manually vs let the AI handle it
| Situation | Who should reply |
|---|---|
| Prospect is asking a standard objection the KB covers | Let the AI handle it. |
| Prospect is warming up — "tell me more" | Usually fine for the AI, unless you want a stronger personal touch for a high-value lead. |
| Prospect asks for custom pricing / scope / legal | Reply manually. This is what escalation is for. |
| Prospect has already booked — just confirming details | Reply manually so the invite doesn't have AI-SDR tone around it. |
| Thread is going sideways (anger, complaints) | Reply manually and handle it yourself. |
Read before you reply
The AI leaves the full thread history visible. Before you jump in, read what it already said — otherwise your reply will read as a jarring context break for the prospect.