Build a Telegram AI chatbot with Trilox and OpenAI: n8n workflow

Build a Telegram AI chatbot with Trilox and OpenAI

Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Telegram. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 29 steps, 5 branches: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

LargeCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

The flow

Starts it 2Model 5Logic 12Service 10

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

1OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
2Conversation MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
3Structured Output ParserOutput Parser StructuredModel
4Telegram TriggerTelegram triggerStarts it
5Trilox Trigger (Agent Reply)Trilox triggerStarts it
6AI AgentAgentModel
7Message Type RouterSwitchLogic
8Channel RouterSwitchLogic
9Check Handler (Post-Bot)TriloxService
10Extract TextSetLogic
11Download Voice FileTelegramService
12Ignore UnsupportedNo OpLogic
13Forward to TelegramTelegramService
14Other Channels (Placeholder)No OpLogic
15Handler Status Router 2SwitchLogic
16Merge Text InputMergeLogic
17Transcribe Voice MessageOpen AiModel
18Send Bot ReplyTelegramService
19Suppress Bot ReplyNo OpLogic
20Record Visitor MessageTriloxService
21Record Bot ResponseTriloxService
22Check Handler (Pre-Bot)TriloxService
23Needs Human?IfLogic
24Handler Status RouterSwitchLogic
25Escalate to HumanTriloxService
26Done (No Escalation)No OpLogic
27Send Awaiting MessageTelegramService
28Bot Stays SilentNo OpLogic
29Record Awaiting MessageTriloxService

How it's built

Starts on: An incoming Telegram message
Steps: 29, with 5 branches
Size: Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
Connects to: 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 Telegram account, 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?

Take your time. At 29 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 29 steps before you point it at anything that matters.