# AI WhatsApp assistant – smart message responder: n8n workflow

> Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across Google Sheets and WhatsApp. It puts Gemini behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-whatsapp-assistant-smart-message-responder (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

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

# AI WhatsApp assistant – smart message responder

Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across Google Sheets and WhatsApp. It puts Gemini behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 13 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: Gemini Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fai-whatsapp-assistant-smart-message-responder)

**13 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 3 Model 4 Logic 4 Service 2

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

- 1 **WhatsApp Trigger** Whats App trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Google Gemini Chat Model** Lm Chat Google Gemini *Model*
- 3 **Per-User Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 4 **Google Sheets Tool** Google Sheets Tool *Service*
- 5 **Output Parser** Output Parser Item List *Model*
- 6 **Filter Valid Messages** If *Logic*
- 7 **AI Agent** Agent *Model*
- 8 **Deduplication Check** Code *Logic*
- 9 **Skip (Invalid Message)** Respond To Webhook *Starts it*
- 10 **Clean Response** Code *Logic*
- 11 **Check If Already Processed** If *Logic*
- 12 **Send Message (Once)** Whats App *Service*
- 13 **Skip (Already Processed)** Respond To Webhook *Starts it*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An incoming WhatsApp message
- **Steps:** 13, with 2 branches
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Google Sheets, WhatsApp
- **Model:** Gemini
- **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 Google Sheets and WhatsApp accounts, and a key for Gemini. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an incoming WhatsApp message.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls Gemini. 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?

Plan an afternoon. 13 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 13 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-whatsapp-assistant-smart-message-responder)
- **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.

[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)[WhatsApp](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=WhatsApp#library)

## Workflows like it

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

- [**Automate client onboarding across Google Drive, Slack, Notion** 13 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-client-onboarding-across-google-drive-slack-notion)
- [**Automate event planning & budget optimization with Claude** 13 steps · calls a model · Email, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-event-planning-and-budget-optimization-with-claude)
- [**Automate water bill calculations with Telegram and Gemini** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-water-bill-calculations-with-telegram-and-gemini)
- [**Automated customer feedback triage with Gemini and Jotform** 13 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-customer-feedback-triage-with-gemini-and-jotform)
- [**Build a knowledge-based WhatsApp assistant with Gemini** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Docs, Supabase](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-knowledge-based-whatsapp-assistant-with-gemini)
- [**Create a daily market brief from Google Sheets, Alpha Vantage** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, RSS](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-a-daily-market-brief-from-google-sheets-alpha-vantage)