• EXECUTION
  • STATUS
  • DETAILS
  • HUMAN

How to run and monitor web scrapers with your AI

Connect Apify to your AI client to launch specific actors and track their progress in real time.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use my AI to manage Apify scrapers?

Your AI starts specific actors and monitors their status to ensure your data collection works. You'll see exactly which runs are active, finished, or failed. Here is how the process works.

Scraping outcomes.

Where your data collection lands.

The AI manages the heavy lifting of execution and status tracking.

EXECUTION

Active scraper runs

The AI triggers the specific actor you need. You get immediate confirmation that the task has started.

STATUS

Real-time monitoring

Your agent checks the status of ongoing runs. You'll know the moment a scrape finishes or hits a snag.

DETAILS

Run metadata

The AI pulls specific details about a completed run. This helps you confirm the run parameters and results.

HUMAN

Manual error handling

If a run fails, the AI reports the error. You decide if you need to adjust the actor input or try again.

The workflow

What your AI does when <the thing arrives>.

The AI acts as the operator for your Apify account.

  1. Identify actors

    The AI looks through your Apify account to find the specific scraping tools you have available.

    list_actors

  2. Launch a scraper

    Your agent starts a new execution using the input parameters you provide.

    run_actor

  3. Track progress

    The AI checks the list of recent runs to see which scrapers are still working.

    list_actor_runs

  4. Inspect run status

    The AI pulls the specific details for a single run to verify its success or failure.

    get_run_details

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to control your scrapers.

Starting points

Replace the bracketed text with your actual actor names or run IDs.

Apify Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_pvv6MX9ZP8hnkCba86SJURXFBwAhkV4b6QXmWdj1/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Apify capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify-alternative-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_pvv6MX9ZP8hnkCba86SJURXFBwAhkV4b6QXmWdj1/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • List my Apify actors so I can see what I can run.

  • Run the [actor_name] actor with this input: [input_json].

  • Check the status of my most recent Apify runs.

  • Get the details for run [run_id] to see if it succeeded.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect Apify once, then ask.

Link your account once and your credentials stay encrypted. You can then manage all your scraping tasks through your AI client.

Connect Apify to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can my AI change the settings of an existing actor?

    No. The AI can only pass new input parameters when it starts a new run.

  • 02

    Can the AI delete my Apify runs?

    No. The AI can only list, run, and check the details of runs.

  • 03

    How does the AI handle failed scrapers?

    The AI checks the run status and reports the failure to you so you can decide how to proceed.

  • 04

    Can the AI download the scraped datasets?

    No. The AI monitors the execution status and provides run details, but it does not pull the raw data files into the chat.

  • 05

    Can the AI create new actors for me?

    No. The AI can only interact with actors that already exist in your Apify account.

  • More questions about Apify? See everything the Apify Connector can do

Connect Apify to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more