Automation library · Scheduling

Build a personal AI assistant with Telegram and OpenAI

Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sheets and Telegram. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 17 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

17 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
0Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
4Services it connects to

The flow

Starts it 1Model 6Service 10

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

  1. 1Telegram TriggerTelegram triggerStarts it
  2. 2OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  3. 3Contacts DataGoogle Sheets ToolService
  4. 4Create EventGoogle Calendar ToolService
  5. 5Create Event with AttendeeGoogle Calendar ToolService
  6. 6Get EventsGoogle Calendar ToolService
  7. 7Send EmailGmail ToolService
  8. 8Get MessagesGmail ToolService
  9. 9Get ProjectsGoogle Sheets ToolService
  10. 10Update ProjectsGoogle Sheets ToolService
  11. 11WikipediaTool WikipediaModel
  12. 12Hacker NewsHacker News ToolService
  13. 13SerpAPITool Serp ApiModel
  14. 14CalculatorTool CalculatorModel
  15. 15Window Buffer MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  16. 16Personal AssistantAgentModel
  17. 17Respond to MeTelegramService

How it's built

Starts on
An incoming Telegram message
Steps
17
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sheets, Telegram
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 Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sheets and Telegram accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an incoming Telegram message.

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. 17 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 17 steps before you point it at anything that matters.