• ACTIVE
  • LOGS
  • HUMAN
  • SYNC

How to trigger new pipelines with your AI

Connect CircleCI to your agent once. After that, you can kick off builds just by asking.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

Can I start CircleCI builds from my chat?

Yes. You can command your agent to launch new pipelines for any project or branch you specify. This lets you manage your CI/CD flow without leaving your conversation. Here is how the process works.

Where every build lands.

The outcomes of your commands.

Your agent turns your text into active CircleCI operations.

ACTIVE

New builds running

The agent uses trigger_cci_pipeline to start the process. You'll see the build appear in your CircleCI dashboard immediately.

LOGS

Pipeline status

Your agent can check if the build started correctly. You get confirmation that the specific branch is now building.

HUMAN

Manual intervention

If a build fails or needs a specific configuration change, you'll need to jump into the CircleCI UI to fix the code or settings.

SYNC

Project alignment

The agent ensures the right project and branch are targeted. This keeps your CI/CD state in sync with your chat instructions.

The workflow

What your AI does when you ask for a build.

The agent handles the API calls so you don't have to touch the CircleCI dashboard.

  1. Identify the target

    Your agent looks at your request to find the exact project name and branch you want to build.

    trigger_cci_pipeline

  2. Execute the trigger

    The agent sends the command to CircleCI to start the pipeline for that specific branch.

    trigger_cci_pipeline

  3. Confirm execution

    The agent verifies that the request was accepted by the CircleCI API.

    trigger_cci_pipeline

  4. Report back

    You get a plain text confirmation in your chat that the build is underway.

    trigger_cci_pipeline

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger your first build.

Starting points

Replace the project names and branch names with your actual CircleCI details.

CircleCI Connector

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

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_RYNFniMxh53CKeYToBM2UNUbXRz4n2cftwtxDiON/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 — CircleCI capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "circleci-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_RYNFniMxh53CKeYToBM2UNUbXRz4n2cftwtxDiON/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Trigger a new pipeline for the main branch in my frontend-app project.

  • Start a CircleCI build for the feature/login-fix branch in the api-service repo.

  • Kick off a build for the production branch in my mobile-app project.

  • Run a new pipeline for the develop branch in the web-dashboard project.

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

Start here

Connect CircleCI once, then ask.

Click the link to connect your account. Your credentials stay encrypted and private. Once connected, your agent is ready to run builds.

Connect CircleCI to your AI

FAQ

How the trigger works.

  • 01

    Can the AI change my CircleCI project settings?

    No. The agent can only trigger pipelines. It cannot modify your project configurations or security settings.

  • 02

    Does the AI delete any existing pipelines?

    No. The agent only has the ability to trigger new builds. It cannot delete or cancel existing pipelines.

  • 03

    Can I trigger a build for a branch that doesn't exist?

    No. The trigger will fail if the branch you specify isn't found in the project.

  • 04

    Will the AI automatically fix a failing build?

    No. The agent can start a build, but it cannot rewrite your code or fix build errors for you.

  • 05

    Do I need to stay in the chat to watch the build?

    No. Once the agent confirms the trigger, the build runs on CircleCI as usual.

  • More questions about CircleCI? The Connector page answers them. See everything the CircleCI Connector can do

Connect CircleCI to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more