Automation library · Customer support

Answer WhatsApp questions from PDF documents with RAG

Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across Google Drive, Pinecone and WhatsApp. It puts Gemini and OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 14 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: Gemini, OpenAIRetrieval

14 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
0Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
3Services it connects to

The flow

Starts it 3Model 9Service 2

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

  1. 1Google Drive TriggerGoogle Drive triggerStarts it
  2. 2Embeddings OpenAIEmbeddings Open AiModel
  3. 3Recursive Character Text Splitter1Text Splitter Recursive Character Text SplitterModel
  4. 4When chat message receivedChat triggerStarts it
  5. 5Google Gemini Chat ModelLm Chat Google GeminiModel
  6. 6Simple MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  7. 7Embeddings OpenAI1Embeddings Open AiModel
  8. 8WhatsApp TriggerWhats App triggerStarts it
  9. 9Download fileGoogle DriveService
  10. 10Pinecone Vector Store1Vector Store PineconeModel
  11. 11Default Data LoaderDocument Default Data LoaderModel
  12. 12AI AgentAgentModel
  13. 13Pinecone Vector StoreVector Store PineconeModel
  14. 14Send messageWhats AppService

How it's built

Starts on
An incoming WhatsApp message
Steps
14
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Google Drive, Pinecone, WhatsApp
Model
Gemini, 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 Google Drive, Pinecone and WhatsApp accounts, and a key for Gemini and OpenAI. 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 and 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?

Plan an afternoon. 14 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 14 steps before you point it at anything that matters.