# AI pen pal with OpenAI and Gmail: n8n workflow template

> Started by a clock, and works across Gmail. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 9 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-pen-pal-with-openai-and-gmail (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

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

# AI pen pal with OpenAI and Gmail

Started by a clock, and works across Gmail. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 9 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fai-pen-pal-with-openai-and-gmail)

**9 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 4 Logic 3 Service 1

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

- 1 **Schedule Trigger** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Edit Fields** Set *Logic*
- 3 **Planner** Open Ai *Model*
- 4 **Pen Pal Writer (v1)** Open Ai *Model*
- 5 **Evaluator** Open Ai *Model*
- 6 **Check Stop** Code *Logic*
- 7 **Good Enough** If *Logic*
- 8 **Send a message** Gmail *Service*
- 9 **Refiner** Open Ai *Model*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** A clock
- **Steps:** 9, with 1 branch
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Gmail
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

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

What starts it?

It starts on a clock.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 9 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

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 9 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-pen-pal-with-openai-and-gmail)
- **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.

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

## Workflows like it

Also ai assistants, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**AI Email Teaching Assistant with RAG and Intent Classification** 9 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Pinecone](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-email-teaching-assistant-with-rag-and-intent-classificati)
- [**AI-powered Gmail assistant: send replies by analyzing thread ID** 9 steps · calls a model · Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-gmail-assistant-send-replies-by-analyzing-thread-)
- [**Automated email inquiry processing & routing with Gmail** 9 steps · calls a model · Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-email-inquiry-processing-and-routing-with-gmail)
- [**Automated professional Gmail replies with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-professional-gmail-replies-with-openai)
- [**Automated system for generating commercial proposals** 9 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/systeme-automatise-de-generation-de-propositions-commerciale)
- [**Basic automatic Gmail email labelling with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/basic-automatic-gmail-email-labelling-with-openai)