# AI agent to chat with Airtable: n8n workflow template

> Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Airtable. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-agent-to-chat-with-airtable (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Data collection](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Data+collection#library)

# AI agent to chat with Airtable

Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Airtable. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 30 steps, 3 branches: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fai-agent-to-chat-with-airtable)

**30 steps** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live

**3** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 2 Model 8 Logic 10 Service 10

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **OpenAI Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 2 **Window Buffer Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 3 **When chat message received** Chat trigger *Starts it*
- 4 **Execute Workflow Trigger** Execute Workflow trigger *Starts it*
- 5 **Search records** Tool Workflow *Model*
- 6 **Process data with code** Tool Workflow *Model*
- 7 **Create map image** Tool Code *Model*
- 8 **Get list of bases** Tool Workflow *Model*
- 9 **Get base schema** Tool Workflow *Model*
- 10 **AI Agent** Agent *Model*
- 11 **Switch** Switch *Logic*
- 12 **Get Bases** Airtable *Service*
- 13 **Get Base/Tables schema** Airtable *Service*
- 14 **If filter description exists** If *Logic*
- 15 **OpenAI - Create thread** Http Request *Service*
- 16 **Aggregate** Aggregate *Logic*
- 17 **Aggregate1** Aggregate *Logic*
- 18 **Merge** Merge *Logic*
- 19 **Set schema and prompt** Set *Logic*
- 20 **OpenAI - Send message** Http Request *Service*
- 21 **Response** Set *Logic*
- 22 **Airtable - Search records** Http Request *Service*
- 23 **OpenAI - Generate search filter** Http Request *Service*
- 24 **OpenAI - Run assistant** Http Request *Service*
- 25 **Aggregate2** Aggregate *Logic*
- 26 **OpenAI - Get messages** Http Request *Service*
- 27 **If1** If *Logic*
- 28 **OpenAI - Download File** Http Request *Service*
- 29 **Upload file to get link** Http Request *Service*
- 30 **Response1** Set *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone opening a chat with it
- **Steps:** 30, with 3 branches
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** Airtable
- **Model:** OpenAI
- **Retrieval:** Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Airtable account, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on someone opening a chat with it.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Take your time. At 30 steps it is large: read it before trusting it with anything live.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 30 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fai-agent-to-chat-with-airtable)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Airtable](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Airtable#library)

## Workflows like it

Also data collection, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Create stylized product photography with Airtable and Gemini** 30 steps · calls a model · Airtable](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-stylized-product-photography-with-airtable-and-gemini)
- [**Assign unassigned Jira issues with Airtable** 28 steps · calls a model · Airtable, Jira](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/assign-unassigned-jira-issues-with-airtable)
- [**Fetch hierarchical data records from Airtable** 32 steps · Airtable](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/fetch-hierarchical-data-records-from-airtable)
- [**Daily agenda reminder in Airtable - WhatsApp - Evolution** 33 steps · calls a model · Airtable](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/aviso-de-agenda-diaria-en-airtable-whatsapp-evolution)
- [**Extract information from a logo sheet with Airtable** 33 steps · calls a model · Airtable](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-information-from-a-logo-sheet-with-airtable)
- [**Assistant for n8n widget with OpenAI and Airtable** 27 steps · Airtable](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/assistant-for-n8n-widget-with-openai-and-airtable)