Adding Google Chat as a channel to your Kore.ai assistant allows end-users to chat with it using Google Chat. This article shows you how to set it up.

Step 1: Enable the Google Chat API

1. Log into Google Cloud.
2. Click Library, in the left side menu.
   
   
3. Search and select the Google Chat API.
   
   
4. Click Enable.
5. On enabling the API, you are redirected to the Overview page of the Google Chat API.
   
   

Step 2: Set Up the API in Google Cloud 

To set up the Google Chat API, you need to create credentials first, then configure its details and functionality, as follows:

1. From the Credentials page, click Create credentials and select Service account.
   
   
   
2. Provide a name for your service account, service account description, and click Create and Continue.
   
   
3. Once the service account is created there are 2 optional steps:
   1. Grant this service account access to project
   2. Grant users access to this service account
4. Click on the Done button.
   
   
5. Go to the Configurations section and provide all the required details like:
   1. App name
   2. Avatar URL
   3. Description
      
      
6. Under Functionality choose both Receive one-to-one messages  and Join spaces and group conversations options.
   
   
7. Under Connection Settings:
   1. Select the App URL option.
   2. Go to the Kore.ai XO Platform > Select VA > Deploy > Channels > Google Chat > Configurations and copy the Webhook URL.
   3. Go back to Connections Settings in Google Cloud and paste the Webhook URL
8. Select the appropriate option under Permissions.
   
   

Next, we will be configuring the API keys that the XO Platform will use to connect to Google Chat.

Step 3: Create API Keys

Once your service account has been created, you need to manage the keys corresponding to your API, as follows:

1. Navigate to the Credentials page and click on Manage service accounts.
   
   
2. From the Manage service accounts page click the Actions button corresponding to your newly created account, then on Manage keys.
   
   
3. From the Manage Keys page click on Add Key button, select Create new key from the drop down, select the JSON option, and click on Create button.
   

A JSON file will be generated and you need to copy the client_email, and private_key that needs to be input into the XO Platform. .

Step 4: Configure the Google Chat Channel

In the XO Platform, select the VA you’re working with, then go to Deploy > Channels > Google Chat > Configurations.  

1. Enter the following configuration details:
1. Client Email – Copy the value of the client_email field present in the credentials JSON file of your Service Account and enter it here.
2. Private Key – Copy the value of the private_key field present in the credentials JSON file of your Service Account and enter it here
2. Select the Yes and click Save to enable Google Chat channel.

After the channel is enabled and all configurations are verified, you can optionally publish the assistant to make it available for end-users, with the new channel. Learn more about Publishing your Virtual Assistant.

To learn more about working with Channels within the Kore.ai XO Platform, please see Channel Enablement.