Automation library · AI assistants

Build a knowledge base chatbot with OpenAI and RAG

Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Google Docs. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 12 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

12 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
0Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
1Service it connects to

The flow

Starts it 2Model 9Service 1

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

  1. 1OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  2. 2Embeddings OpenAIEmbeddings Open AiModel
  3. 3When clicking "Execute Workflow"Manual triggerStarts it
  4. 4Simple MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  5. 5Document ChunkerText Splitter Recursive Character Text SplitterModel
  6. 6OpenAI Embeddings GeneratorEmbeddings Open AiModel
  7. 7When chat message receivedChat triggerStarts it
  8. 8Knowledge Base AgentAgentModel
  9. 9MongoDB Vector SearchVector Store Mongo DBAtlasModel
  10. 10Google Docs ImporterGoogle DocsService
  11. 11Document Section LoaderDocument Default Data LoaderModel
  12. 12MongoDB Vector Store InserterVector Store Mongo DBAtlasModel

How it's built

Starts on
Someone opening a chat with it
Steps
12
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Google Docs
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, plus your own Google Docs 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?

Plan an afternoon. 12 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 12 steps before you point it at anything that matters.