Automation library · AI assistants

Beginner's Guide to Workflow Automation with OpenAI

Started by someone opening a chat with it. It calls services over plain HTTP rather than through connectors. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 21 steps, 1 branch: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

LargeCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

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21 stepsLarge: read it before trusting it with anything live
1Branch: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
0Services by connector: it calls them over plain HTTP

The flow

Starts it 5Model 5Logic 9Service 2

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

  1. 1Start Here - Manual TriggerManual triggerStarts it
  2. 2HTTP Request - Fetch UsersHttp RequestService
  3. 3Webhook - Receive DataWebhookStarts it
  4. 4Chat Trigger - AI AssistantChat triggerStarts it
  5. 5Window Buffer MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  6. 6OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  7. 7Tool: Current TimeTool CodeModel
  8. 8Tool: CalculatorTool CodeModel
  9. 9Schedule - Every Monday 9 AMSchedule triggerStarts it
  10. 10Set Initial DataSetLogic
  11. 11Split Users ArraySplit OutLogic
  12. 12Send Webhook ResponseRespond To WebhookStarts it
  13. 13AI Agent - n8n AssistantAgentModel
  14. 14Code Node - Custom ProcessingCodeLogic
  15. 15Extract User FieldsSetLogic
  16. 16IF Condition - Route DataIfLogic
  17. 17OpenAI API - Generate Fun FactHttp RequestService
  18. 18True Branch DataSetLogic
  19. 19False Branch DataSetLogic
  20. 20Merge Both BranchesMergeLogic
  21. 21Final SummarySetLogic

How it's built

Starts on
Someone opening a chat with it
Steps
21, with 1 branch
Size
Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
Connects to
Nothing by connector; it calls services over plain HTTP
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, 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 21 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 21 steps before you point it at anything that matters.