Google Calendar
Connect Google Calendar to your agents for appointment booking, event management, and scheduling automation.
Google Calendar Integration
Give your agents the ability to check availability, book appointments, create events, and manage calendars — all through natural conversation.
Connecting Google Calendar
thinnestAI uses OAuth to securely connect to your Google Calendar. No passwords are stored — you authorize access directly through Google.
Step 1: Start the OAuth Flow
- Navigate to Agents and select your agent.
- Go to the Tools section and click Add Tool.
- Select Google Calendar.
- Click Connect Google Account.
Step 2: Authorize Access
- A Google sign-in window will appear.
- Select the Google account that owns the calendar you want to use.
- Review the permissions requested:
- View your calendars — so the agent can check availability
- Manage events on your calendars — so the agent can create, update, and delete events
- Click Allow.
Step 3: Configure the Tool
After authorization, configure how the agent uses the calendar:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Calendar | Select which calendar to use (default: primary) |
| Allowed Actions | Choose which actions the agent can perform |
| Time Zone | Set the calendar's time zone |
Click Save to finish setup.
Available Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| List Events | Retrieve upcoming events for a date range |
| Check Availability | Find free/busy time slots |
| Create Event | Book a new calendar event with title, time, attendees, and description |
| Update Event | Modify an existing event (reschedule, change details) |
| Delete Event | Cancel an event |
You can enable or disable individual actions based on what your agent should be able to do. For example, a read-only agent might only have List Events and Check Availability enabled.
Assigning to an Agent
Once connected, assign the Google Calendar tool to any agent:
- Open the agent configuration.
- In the Tools section, you'll see Google Calendar listed with a green "Connected" badge.
- Toggle it on for the agent.
- In the agent's Instructions, tell it how to use the calendar:
You are a scheduling assistant. When users want to book a meeting:
1. Ask for their preferred date and time.
2. Check availability on the calendar.
3. If the slot is free, create the event.
4. Confirm the booking with the user.
Business hours are Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST.
Do not book meetings during lunch (12-1 PM).Example: Appointment Booking Agent
Here's how to build an appointment booking agent step by step.
Agent Setup
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Appointment Scheduler |
| Model | GPT-4o |
| Tools | Google Calendar |
Agent Instructions
You are an appointment scheduling assistant for Acme Dental Clinic.
BOOKING RULES:
- Appointments are 30 minutes long
- Available Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM EST
- No appointments during 12-1 PM (lunch break)
- Minimum 2 hours advance notice required
WORKFLOW:
1. Greet the caller and ask what type of appointment they need
(cleaning, checkup, consultation, emergency)
2. Ask for their preferred date and time
3. Check calendar availability
4. If available, create the event with:
- Title: "[Type] - [Patient Name]"
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Description: Include patient's phone number and appointment type
5. Confirm the booking details with the caller
6. If not available, suggest the next 3 available slots
IMPORTANT:
- Always confirm the date and time before booking
- If the patient needs to cancel, look up their existing event and delete it
- Be friendly and professionalSample Conversation
Agent: "Good morning! Welcome to Acme Dental Clinic. I can help you
schedule an appointment. What type of visit do you need?"
User: "I'd like to book a cleaning for next Tuesday."
Agent: "A cleaning appointment — great! Do you have a preferred time
on Tuesday?"
User: "How about 10 AM?"
Agent: [Checks calendar availability for Tuesday 10:00-10:30 AM]
"Tuesday at 10 AM is available! Can I get your name to
complete the booking?"
User: "Sarah Johnson."
Agent: [Creates event: "Cleaning - Sarah Johnson" on Tuesday 10:00-10:30]
"You're all set, Sarah! I've booked your cleaning appointment
for Tuesday, March 11th at 10:00 AM. The appointment is
30 minutes. Is there anything else I can help with?"Using with Voice Agents
Google Calendar works seamlessly with voice agents. Callers can book appointments over the phone and the agent handles everything conversationally:
- The agent asks for preferred dates and times naturally.
- Availability checks happen in real-time during the call.
- Events are created instantly — no manual data entry.
- Confirmation details are read back to the caller.
This is especially powerful for businesses like clinics, salons, consultancies, and service providers.
Tips
- Time zones — Make sure the calendar time zone matches your business location. The agent will handle conversions automatically.
- Buffer time — Add padding between appointments in your instructions (e.g., "Leave 15 minutes between appointments").
- Multiple calendars — You can connect multiple Google accounts and assign different calendars to different agents.
- Attendees — The agent can add attendees to events, which sends them a Google Calendar invitation automatically.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Not authorized" error | Re-connect your Google account. The OAuth token may have expired. |
| Events not appearing | Check that the correct calendar is selected (primary vs. specific calendar). |
| Wrong time zone | Update the time zone in the tool configuration. |
| Can't create events | Ensure "Create Event" is enabled in the tool's Allowed Actions. |
Next Steps
- Google Sheets — Read and write spreadsheet data.
- Gmail — Add email capabilities to your agent.
- SMS — Send text confirmations after booking.