Automation library · Chat assistants

Build a Telegram Q&A bot with Linkup 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. 13 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

13 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
2Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
1Service it connects to

The flow

Starts it 1Model 3Logic 5Service 4

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

  1. 1Telegram TriggerTelegram triggerStarts it
  2. 2Simple MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  3. 3OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  4. 4Web searchHttp Request ToolService
  5. 5Myself?IfLogic
  6. 6AI AgentAgentModel
  7. 7Message RouterSwitchLogic
  8. 8Telegram answerTelegramService
  9. 9Get Audio FileTelegramService
  10. 10Prepare message from textSetLogic
  11. 11Mistral transcribeHttp RequestService
  12. 12Consolidate user messageSetLogic
  13. 13Prepare message from audioSetLogic

How it's built

Starts on
An incoming Telegram message
Steps
13, with 2 branches
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
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?

Plan an afternoon. 13 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 13 steps before you point it at anything that matters.