Automation library · Research and reporting

Build your first AI data analyst chatbot with OpenAI

Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Google Sheets. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 14 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

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

The flow

Starts it 2Model 5Logic 3Service 4

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

  1. 1When chat message receivedChat triggerStarts it
  2. 2OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  3. 3CalculatorTool CalculatorModel
  4. 4When Executed by Another WorkflowExecute Workflow triggerStarts it
  5. 5Records by dateTool WorkflowModel
  6. 6Get transactions by product nameGoogle Sheets ToolService
  7. 7Get all transactionsGoogle Sheets ToolService
  8. 8Buffer MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  9. 9Get transactions by statusGoogle Sheets ToolService
  10. 10AI AgentAgentModel
  11. 11Google Sheets requestHttp RequestService
  12. 12CodeCodeLogic
  13. 13Filter by statusFilterLogic
  14. 14AggregateAggregateLogic

How it's built

Starts on
Someone opening a chat with it
Steps
14
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Google Sheets
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 Sheets 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. 14 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 14 steps before you point it at anything that matters.