# Beginner's Guide to Workflow Automation with OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by someone opening a chat with it. It calls services over plain HTTP rather than through connectors.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/beginner-s-guide-to-workflow-automation-with-openai (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)

# 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.

Large Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fbeginner-s-guide-to-workflow-automation-with-openai)

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

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**0** Services by connector: it calls them over plain HTTP

## The flow

Starts it 5 Model 5 Logic 9 Service 2

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

- 1 **Start Here - Manual Trigger** Manual trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **HTTP Request - Fetch Users** Http Request *Service*
- 3 **Webhook - Receive Data** Webhook *Starts it*
- 4 **Chat Trigger - AI Assistant** Chat trigger *Starts it*
- 5 **Window Buffer Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 6 **OpenAI Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 7 **Tool: Current Time** Tool Code *Model*
- 8 **Tool: Calculator** Tool Code *Model*
- 9 **Schedule - Every Monday 9 AM** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 10 **Set Initial Data** Set *Logic*
- 11 **Split Users Array** Split Out *Logic*
- 12 **Send Webhook Response** Respond To Webhook *Starts it*
- 13 **AI Agent - n8n Assistant** Agent *Model*
- 14 **Code Node - Custom Processing** Code *Logic*
- 15 **Extract User Fields** Set *Logic*
- 16 **IF Condition - Route Data** If *Logic*
- 17 **OpenAI API - Generate Fun Fact** Http Request *Service*
- 18 **True Branch Data** Set *Logic*
- 19 **False Branch Data** Set *Logic*
- 20 **Merge Both Branches** Merge *Logic*
- 21 **Final Summary** Set *Logic*

## 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.

## 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%2Fbeginner-s-guide-to-workflow-automation-with-openai)
- **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.

## Workflows like it

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

- [**Agile project generator with ClickUp and OpenAI** 21 steps · calls a model · ClickUp, Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/agile-project-generator-with-clickup-and-openai)
- [**Assess credential risk and route mitigation actions** 21 steps · calls a model](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/assess-credential-risk-and-route-mitigation-actions)
- [**Build an on-premises AI Kaggle competition assistant** 21 steps · calls a model · Qdrant](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-an-on-premises-ai-kaggle-competition-assistant)
- [**Chatbot Workflow with Vector Store** 21 steps · calls a model](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/chatbot-workflow-with-vector-store)
- [**Create AI-powered YouTube shorts with OpenAI** 21 steps · calls a model](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-ai-powered-youtube-shorts-with-openai)
- [**Cybersecurity Intelligence: Create Daily Digest & Viral Topics** 21 steps · calls a model · Baserow, Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/cybersecurity-intelligence-create-daily-digest-and-viral-top)